McGregor knows who he thinks won, and he knows what he wants to see next in boxing’s fast moving heavyweight division.
Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury via split decision on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, edging a hotly contested bout to become the undisputed heavyweight champion (see the highlights here).
It was as close as it gets according to the judges scoring, with two handing the fight to Usyk vs. one to Fury. But in the eyes of UFC legend Conor McGregor, it was clear Usyk deserved the nod.
“A mad hiding!” he declared on Instagram following the fight. “What next, who knows.”
An immediate rematch on October 12th was cooked into the Usyk vs. Fury contract, but neither fighter sounded interested in turning around so quick after the weekend’s fight — and lengthy training camps due to delays. That leaves everything up in the air … fortunately, Saudi money tends to make things happen in today’s heavyweight landscape.
For “The Notorious,” he’s more interested in seeing things move towards the long-hyped Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua superfight.
“Usyk is incredible. he has beat both soundly,” McGregor declared. “Whatever moves towards Tyson AJ I am for. If Fury wishes to go a second try at the wheel, AJ had two attempts, so why not? Tall ask. Not impossible also. If not, AJ Usyk III last hoorah, and then win lose or draw go Tyson AJ.”
“What a time to be alive,” he concluded. “Thank you to the fighting gods and to God.”
McGregor has his own big fight to concentrate on in the future. He’ll return on June 29th at UFC 303 to fight Michael Chandler in what “The Notorious” hopes will be the most incredible comeback in sports history.