Teddy Atlas: Floyd Mayweather Better Stop Conor McGregor For Boxing Lifers
Teddy Atlas: Floyd Mayweather Better Stop Conor McGregor For Boxing Lifers
Lauded boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas discusses Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor with Chael Sonnen.
Lauded boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas knows a thing or two about the sweet science.
Catching up with former UFC title challenger and current Bellator MMA star Chael Sonnen, Atlas riffed on the upcoming showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas, saying he does not think fans will be treated to a quick finish.
"Believe it or not, I think it might go longer than people think," Atlas said after picking Mayweather to win the fight.
Sonnen then agreed with Atlas' pick of Mayweather and upped the ante, asking him if he thought Mayweather would stop McGregor at some point. This question has layers, and Atlas explained.
"He better [stop McGregor] for the boxing lifers out there like me, for the real boxing fans out there," Atlas said. "If he doesn't stop him, in some ways it's a loss for him or at least for the sport of boxing, because they expect him to destroy him. So if you come up less than that, it's almost like McGregor wins -- even if he loses -- if he goes the distance.
"And nothing against McGregor, I'm not saying it that way, and I have all the respect in the world for MMA guys, but I would hope he stops him."
Adding another dimension here, Atlas believes McGregor's advantages -- his power and aggression -- could work against him in the bout.
"It's really kind of more up to McGregor than it is Floyd," Atlas said. "If McGregor wants to really go after him, as most people think that's his best shot, then I think he's [Mayweather's] got a chance to stop him [McGregor]. But if he [McGregor] doesn't, if he plays and he lays back a little bit, Floyd's not a 'go-get-you' guy, so there's a chance that it's going to go rounds."
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Catching up with former UFC title challenger and current Bellator MMA star Chael Sonnen, Atlas riffed on the upcoming showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas, saying he does not think fans will be treated to a quick finish.
"Believe it or not, I think it might go longer than people think," Atlas said after picking Mayweather to win the fight.
Sonnen then agreed with Atlas' pick of Mayweather and upped the ante, asking him if he thought Mayweather would stop McGregor at some point. This question has layers, and Atlas explained.
"He better [stop McGregor] for the boxing lifers out there like me, for the real boxing fans out there," Atlas said. "If he doesn't stop him, in some ways it's a loss for him or at least for the sport of boxing, because they expect him to destroy him. So if you come up less than that, it's almost like McGregor wins -- even if he loses -- if he goes the distance.
"And nothing against McGregor, I'm not saying it that way, and I have all the respect in the world for MMA guys, but I would hope he stops him."
Adding another dimension here, Atlas believes McGregor's advantages -- his power and aggression -- could work against him in the bout.
"It's really kind of more up to McGregor than it is Floyd," Atlas said. "If McGregor wants to really go after him, as most people think that's his best shot, then I think he's [Mayweather's] got a chance to stop him [McGregor]. But if he [McGregor] doesn't, if he plays and he lays back a little bit, Floyd's not a 'go-get-you' guy, so there's a chance that it's going to go rounds."
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