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Former UFC champion Conor McGregor received one of the biggest compliments of his career earlier this week when Mike Tyson praised his boxing skills.
McGregor, who is best known for his striking abilities inside of the UFC’s Octagon, made a jump to the boxing ring back in 2017 to challenge undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a massive superfight. Despite an eventual 10th-round TKO loss to “Money,” McGregor showed serviceable talent inside of the squared circle en route to a $100 million payday.
During a recent episode of his Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast, “Iron Mike” discussed McGregor’s crossover and issued some serious praise for the Irish knockout artist.
“Listen, (it was a spectacle) but this is where it’s not a spectacle – it’s a spectacle but this is where it’s not: he never really had a boxing match in his life, right? He didn’t have a boxing match (and) he went 10 rounds with the greatest fighter in the last 100 years of boxing,” Tyson said. “Think about that. . . He went 10 rounds, scored punches on the greatest fighter in the last 100 years. Did he do something? Did he accomplish something?
“People ain’t looking . . . but look what he had to fight against and look what he did when he fought against it. Imagine a guy never had a boxing match and he’s fighting boxing with me. He goes 10 rounds and he’s fighting me and we’re fighting. Imagine if he did (go 10 rounds) and we’re fighting and I’m doing my thing. That’s a bad motherf*cker. First fight, 10 rounds with the champ, the best champ in the last 50 years or something like that. Pfft, that’s the winner of the fight! That’s the winner. This should’ve been a one round, two round fight. Floyd should’ve took it easy, (but) he had to sweat, he had to fight him. He had to fight somebody who was throwing back.”
Tyson, who has been dropping hints about a potential return to boxing, is widely regarded as one of the best boxers of all time. The former heavyweight champion is also considered the most vicious knockout artist in combat sports history and still carries significant weight in the world of boxing.
McGregor responded to Tyson’s praise via social media and also discussed a potential rematch with Mayweather, which the former UFC champion called “inevitable.”
Thank you Mike, and just know that for the inevitable rematch, with the knowledge I now hold of Floyd’s style, plus under the tutelage of my old school boxing coach, I will crack the puzzle, and I will beat Floyd.
I promise my life on it.
It is great to see you back Iron Mike ?? https://t.co/NDrVnEaukm— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 15, 2020
“Thank you Mike, and just know that for the inevitable rematch, with the knowledge I now hold of Floyd’s style, plus under the tutelage of my old school boxing coach, I will crack the puzzle, and I will beat Floyd. I promise my life on it. It is great to see you back Iron Mike,” wrote McGregor via Twitter.
While McGregor remains focused on his return to the Octagon following a 40-second TKO finish over Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 this past January he has not ruled out a return to the boxing ring. Mayweather has already hinted at a possible rematch so “Notorious” could end up having his chance to prove himself again later down the road.
Until then, what do you make of Tyson’s assessment? Should McGregor be praised for lasting 10 rounds with Mayweather?
Sound off!