Mayweather claims McGregor has all the advantages “on paper”
Floyd Mayweather [49(26)-0] freely admits that he is not the fighter he once was.
What’s more though, the five-weight boxing champ believes that debutant Conor McGregor has the advantage “on paper” going into their mega money clash in Las Vegas later this month.
Mayweather takes on the two-weight UFC and Cage Warriors champion in a twelve-round light middleweight boxing match at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday August 26th.
Both fighters are in camp in Sin City at the moment and, unlike in their heated world press tour, Mayweather has downplayed the undeniable gulf in quality between the two fighters.
While most level-headed commentators agree that a McGregor win would be the biggest upset in sporting history, Mayweather has moved to suggest that the fight is closer than some may thinking
Describing his Dublin opponent, ‘Money May’ told Stephen A. Smith of ESPN that “he’s a lot younger. When you look at myself and Conor McGregor on paper, he’s taller, has a longer reach, he’s a bigger man from top to bottom. He’s a lot younger, so youth is on his side.”
“And I’ve been off a couple of years. And I’m in my 40s. So, if you look at everything on paper, it leans toward Conor McGregor.”
Noting his own diminishing capabilities, Mayweather outlined how “I’m older. I’m not the same fighter I was two years ago. I’m not the same fighter I was five years ago. I lost a step.”
“A fighter like Andre Berto isn’t even supposed to go the distance with Floyd Mayweather, but remember, I was 38. It’s obvious I’m slipping a little bit to even let a fighter like that go the distance with me.”
“I’m not what I used to be. I used to have a 90 percent knockout ratio. It’s obvious I slipped somewhere. Something has taken a toll on my career.”
“I didn’t say I couldn’t fight. I just said I’m not the same Floyd Mayweather I once was.”