As the boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather becomes more of a possibility, one question has become more prevalent regarding the matchup: does McGregor stand a chance? Though most believe he would be embarrassed by Floyd in the ring, the coach of McGregor’s last opponent thinks otherwise.
Mark Henry is the striking coach to elite fighters like Frankie Edgar, Edson Barboza, and the last man to fight McGregor, Eddie Alvarez. The lightweight champion heading into the fight, Alvarez suffered the most brutal defeat of his career at UFC 205 in New York City. McGregor stung him repeatedly, demonstrating the kind of boxing fundamentals that have some wondering if maybe he could stand with Floyd Mayweather.
"All credit to Conor that he hit him from the beginning early and rocked him,” Henry said of McGregor’s performance at UFC 205, per Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star. “It’s like I said, the swing that he has is unbelievable.”
While Henry was proven wrong by McGregor at UFC 205, he now has a new respect for the Irishman’s skills — and even thinks that McGregor has a chance to land his big left hand on a boxer of Mayweather’s caliber.
"I think he would have the possibility of knocking out Mayweather. He’s way bigger than Mayweather too. Boxers only cut about ten pounds, whereas Conor probably walks around at 173lbs. So he’s also a lot bigger than Mayweather too. I even think he has a chance of knocking out Mayweather if it was in the first three to four rounds. After that, I’d definitely give the edge to Mayweather.”
“You know Conor, his defense isn’t as good as Mayweather. But Conor’s speed, power, and precision is unbelievable," Henry said. "After watching that fight, I’d even give a possible chance of knocking out Mayweather early. I don’t think it’d go his way, but I definitely give him the chance of a KO because his power isn’t something I’ve seen (before)."
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