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“I can make Conor ready” – Irish boxing legend would love to train McGregor

Irish boxing legend Wayne McCullough would jump at the opportunity to train Conor McGregor should the mixed martial artist decide to put his California State Athletic Commission Boxing license to use.

The two-weight UFC champion has taken a licence out as speculation of a high-profile fight with five-weight boxing champion Floyd McGregor continues to circulate – although all of this has been dismissed by many as a publicity stunt.

Olympic silver medalist and former bantamweight world champion McCullough is keen to start making a name for himself as a trainer. The US-based Belfast man is currently involved in personal training and also coached the likes of Julian Ramirez as well as continually expressing his desires to build a Stateside Irish stable.

McGregor previously spent time as a boxer at Phil Sutvliffe’s Crumlin BC and has since spent time sparring at Paschal Collins’s Celtic Warriors Gym – who coach John Kavanagh says would be first port of call if McGregor is to move into boxing. McCullough however feels that he can be the man to bring the Dubliner success in the squared circle.

Speaking on Episode 80 of the What’s The Story podcast, McCullough explained how “I would love [to train McGregor], and I said it a year ago, I tweeted it to him [McGregor], ‘come to me and I’ll teach you real professional boxing, I’ll get you ready for professional boxing.”

“I know the guy he was sparring with, the South African guy [Chris van Heerden] and I can make Conor way better than him, I can make Conor into a pure, professional boxer. I know I can, I can do that.

In terms of the mooted clash with Floyd Mayweather, a hypothetical bout in which McGregor is a 9/1 outsider with some bookmakers, McCullough feels he would have some inside information that would help give ‘The Notorious’ the best chance possible.

McCullough outlined how “I’ve sparred with Floyd Mayweather. I’ve known Floyd Mayweather since 1996. Floyd knows me, Floyd knows what way Wayne McCullough was. He knows how tough I’ll train Conor and what condition he would be in. Conor would be ready, 100 percent.”

“There’s certain things Eddie [Futch] thought me about how to beat Floyd and I can teach him some of it.”

“I think in three months he would be ready. He did a bit of boxing before, there’s a bit of fine-tuning that he needs. You don’t change a fighter, you make them better, and there’s small things that can be done against Floyd.”

“I don’t know how to beat Floyd, but I know a way to try and beat Floyd. Nobody knows how to beat him but if that fight does happen I can make Conor ready.”

Listen to Wayne McCullough on the What’s the Story? Podcast (episode 80) in full below:

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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