Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Floyd coasted against McGregor, you could tell from his body language he was way more relaxed than at any point I'd seen him before, it was like a spar where his priority was to make sure McGregor was working the entire time, by the time McGregor was gassed Floyd tee'd off on him with a full tank. It was the mismatch everyone knew it would be.
As for the Fury family, well they are hardly serious themselves are they? I don't quite understand the narrative that "Tommy Fury is a real boxer" - then why is he on a bunch reality TV shows? If he had a different surname this guy would be collecting a couple of losses trying to get to a domestic title, he's found his level fighting guys from YouTube.
No world champion below heavyweight would have trouble with a crossover fight. Could you image putting some wrestler from the UFC in a ring with Inoue, Crawford, Canelo or Beterbiev? It would be a massacre.
As for the Fury family, well they are hardly serious themselves are they? I don't quite understand the narrative that "Tommy Fury is a real boxer" - then why is he on a bunch reality TV shows? If he had a different surname this guy would be collecting a couple of losses trying to get to a domestic title, he's found his level fighting guys from YouTube.
No world champion below heavyweight would have trouble with a crossover fight. Could you image putting some wrestler from the UFC in a ring with Inoue, Crawford, Canelo or Beterbiev? It would be a massacre.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
They can
It’s a bit pantomime
Sell it. Maybe sell it again.
It’s a bit pantomime
Sell it. Maybe sell it again.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
If you look at the best boxers at each weight class in the UFC vs the current best in their respective boxing divisions it looks something like this:Ricky wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 09:45 Floyd coasted against McGregor, you could tell from his body language he was way more relaxed than at any point I'd seen him before, it was like a spar where his priority was to make sure McGregor was working the entire time, by the time McGregor was gassed Floyd tee'd off on him with a full tank. It was the mismatch everyone knew it would be.
As for the Fury family, well they are hardly serious themselves are they? I don't quite understand the narrative that "Tommy Fury is a real boxer" - then why is he on a bunch reality TV shows? If he had a different surname this guy would be collecting a couple of losses trying to get to a domestic title, he's found his level fighting guys from YouTube.
No world champion below heavyweight would have trouble with a crossover fight. Could you image putting some wrestler from the UFC in a ring with Inoue, Crawford, Canelo or Beterbiev? It would be a massacre.
Pavlovich/Gane/Aspinall vs Fury/Usyk
Pereira/Prochazka vs Opeteia
Adesanya vs Beterbiev/Bivol
Edwards vs Canelo
Poirier vs Jermell Charlo
Volkanovski vs Crawford
Yan/O'Malley vs Davis/Haney/Stevenson/Loma
Kape vs Figueroa
Almost all of them would look like amateurs. Pereira and Yan might be the only ones who don't embarrass themselves in their loss in my opinion.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
How come you've picked Poirier instead of Makhachev? I'd be all over Mak v Charlo, personally.joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 10:21If you look at the best boxers at each weight class in the UFC vs the current best in their respective boxing divisions it looks something like this:Ricky wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 09:45 Floyd coasted against McGregor, you could tell from his body language he was way more relaxed than at any point I'd seen him before, it was like a spar where his priority was to make sure McGregor was working the entire time, by the time McGregor was gassed Floyd tee'd off on him with a full tank. It was the mismatch everyone knew it would be.
As for the Fury family, well they are hardly serious themselves are they? I don't quite understand the narrative that "Tommy Fury is a real boxer" - then why is he on a bunch reality TV shows? If he had a different surname this guy would be collecting a couple of losses trying to get to a domestic title, he's found his level fighting guys from YouTube.
No world champion below heavyweight would have trouble with a crossover fight. Could you image putting some wrestler from the UFC in a ring with Inoue, Crawford, Canelo or Beterbiev? It would be a massacre.
Pavlovich/Gane/Aspinall vs Fury/Usyk
Pereira/Prochazka vs Opeteia
Adesanya vs Beterbiev/Bivol
Edwards vs Canelo
Poirier vs Jermell Charlo
Volkanovski vs Crawford
Yan/O'Malley vs Davis/Haney/Stevenson/Loma
Kape vs Figueroa
Almost all of them would look like amateurs. Pereira and Yan might be the only ones who don't embarrass themselves in their loss in my opinion.
I wouldn't be so quick to predict embarrassment for those UFC guys. Very few of them have the sort of cardio deficiency that McGregor has pretty much always had.
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TheLeprechaun
- Middleweight
- Posts: 5137
- Joined: 27 Jun 2013, 20:42
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Fury is massively overrated. If you look at Wilders fights with Duahapa, Molina, Washington, Ortiz, Szpilka, most people would have most of those guys up against Wilder on fair scorecards before the KO. Imagine Prime Mike Tyson or Larry Holmes losing rounds to Eric Molina for example. Wilder is god awful and had Fury on the canvas I don't know how many times. People are finally starting to come round to the idea that Fury isn't that good. The division is just horrendous at the moment. Usyk beats Fury comfortably and they know it.handsofstone wrote: ↑05 Nov 2023, 07:10Agree regarding Golovkin and Inoue but Fury being under prepared is a cop out, he shouldn't need a camp at all to beat a debutant surely, no less a 12 week one. Fair enough Mayweather being semi retired and Tommy being a novice but all we heard in the build ups that they were all mismatches and these guys wouldn't win an area title, hasn't been like that so farBoxerbeetle wrote: ↑05 Nov 2023, 07:04 Mayweather could have got a first round ko if he'd tried but prefers to carry people. Tyson Fury was underprepared and just isn't that good anyway, and Tommy Fury is basically a 'crossover' himself rather than a real pro boxer.
So all in all, 3 very poor choices to represent boxing, 2 of whom were semi-retired. Imagine a crossover against a real killer like prime Golovkin or Inoue, would be a completely different story.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Poirier's boxing is much better than Islam's, especially if you take the threat of a takedown out of it. I considered Oliveira and Gaethje aswell as they all have good but flawed striking for MMA. They're probably all interchangeable but I think Islam would be the worst of them in a boxing ring personally.Kilburn wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 11:14How come you've picked Poirier instead of Makhachev? I'd be all over Mak v Charlo, personally.joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 10:21If you look at the best boxers at each weight class in the UFC vs the current best in their respective boxing divisions it looks something like this:Ricky wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 09:45 Floyd coasted against McGregor, you could tell from his body language he was way more relaxed than at any point I'd seen him before, it was like a spar where his priority was to make sure McGregor was working the entire time, by the time McGregor was gassed Floyd tee'd off on him with a full tank. It was the mismatch everyone knew it would be.
As for the Fury family, well they are hardly serious themselves are they? I don't quite understand the narrative that "Tommy Fury is a real boxer" - then why is he on a bunch reality TV shows? If he had a different surname this guy would be collecting a couple of losses trying to get to a domestic title, he's found his level fighting guys from YouTube.
No world champion below heavyweight would have trouble with a crossover fight. Could you image putting some wrestler from the UFC in a ring with Inoue, Crawford, Canelo or Beterbiev? It would be a massacre.
Pavlovich/Gane/Aspinall vs Fury/Usyk
Pereira/Prochazka vs Opeteia
Adesanya vs Beterbiev/Bivol
Edwards vs Canelo
Poirier vs Jermell Charlo
Volkanovski vs Crawford
Yan/O'Malley vs Davis/Haney/Stevenson/Loma
Kape vs Figueroa
Almost all of them would look like amateurs. Pereira and Yan might be the only ones who don't embarrass themselves in their loss in my opinion.
I wouldn't be so quick to predict embarrassment for those UFC guys. Very few of them have the sort of cardio deficiency that McGregor has pretty much always had.
I think the problem for a lot of them is the opposition. The champs in those weight classes are much more skilled and disciplined than Fury. They also wouldn't carry an opponent like Mayweather. Israel, for example, had an unsuccessful boxing stint already and he didn't get to the top so I don't see it happening now against top tier opposition. Give their UFC opponents bigger gloves, no threat of a takedown and kicks and they'll be defending properly so their boxing wouldn't look anywhere near as good.
I would pick Pereira to put up the best showing because he has a long and successful kickboxing career with a single fight in boxing. He carries one punch power and mostly relies on his punches rather than any other aspect of MMA. His opponent, Opateia, is less proven than the rest of the boxing guys posted because he doesn't have a deep resume, just a couple of top wins in a thin division.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
I see the rationale, although I'd still pick Makachev over Poirier in any discipline, I think he's really improved. Poirier is a solid all rounder (hence a nightmare for someone like McGregor) but has too many weaknesses when stepping up.joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 12:23Poirier's boxing is much better than Islam's, especially if you take the threat of a takedown out of it. I considered Oliveira and Gaethje aswell as they all have good but flawed striking for MMA. They're probably all interchangeable but I think Islam would be the worst of them in a boxing ring personally.Kilburn wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 11:14How come you've picked Poirier instead of Makhachev? I'd be all over Mak v Charlo, personally.joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 10:21
If you look at the best boxers at each weight class in the UFC vs the current best in their respective boxing divisions it looks something like this:
Pavlovich/Gane/Aspinall vs Fury/Usyk
Pereira/Prochazka vs Opeteia
Adesanya vs Beterbiev/Bivol
Edwards vs Canelo
Poirier vs Jermell Charlo
Volkanovski vs Crawford
Yan/O'Malley vs Davis/Haney/Stevenson/Loma
Kape vs Figueroa
Almost all of them would look like amateurs. Pereira and Yan might be the only ones who don't embarrass themselves in their loss in my opinion.
I wouldn't be so quick to predict embarrassment for those UFC guys. Very few of them have the sort of cardio deficiency that McGregor has pretty much always had.
I think the problem for a lot of them is the opposition. The champs in those weight classes are much more skilled and disciplined than Fury. They also wouldn't carry an opponent like Mayweather. Israel, for example, had an unsuccessful boxing stint already and he didn't get to the top so I don't see it happening now against top tier opposition. Give their UFC opponents bigger gloves, no threat of a takedown and kicks and they'll be defending properly so their boxing wouldn't look anywhere near as good.
I would pick Pereira to put up the best showing because he has a long and successful kickboxing career with a single fight in boxing. He carries one punch power and mostly relies on his punches rather than any other aspect of MMA. His opponent, Opateia, is less proven than the rest of the boxing guys posted because he doesn't have a deep resume, just a couple of top wins in a thin division.
Oliveira could have potentially been a real handful as a boxer, with that cardio, punch and deadly instinct. Chin has become highly suspect though.
I don't really think the UFC guys are interested either way are they? I remember a spaced out Chuck Liddell once muttering something about Tommy Morrison in an interview, but that's about it.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
My view is that they see it as a challenge. They're all competitive athletes who all train boxing in one format or another and would like the challenge. Pro athletes also have a certain level of delusion to believe they're better than they are at everything, it's a blessing and a curse. Then there's the final part, the money. Barely any of them are making more money in the UFC compared to what they'd make boxing so it's retirement money for a lot of them.Kilburn wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 13:22I see the rationale, although I'd still pick Makachev over Poirier in any discipline, I think he's really improved. Poirier is a solid all rounder (hence a nightmare for someone like McGregor) but has too many weaknesses when stepping up.joshj909 wrote: ↑08 Nov 2023, 12:23Poirier's boxing is much better than Islam's, especially if you take the threat of a takedown out of it. I considered Oliveira and Gaethje aswell as they all have good but flawed striking for MMA. They're probably all interchangeable but I think Islam would be the worst of them in a boxing ring personally.
I think the problem for a lot of them is the opposition. The champs in those weight classes are much more skilled and disciplined than Fury. They also wouldn't carry an opponent like Mayweather. Israel, for example, had an unsuccessful boxing stint already and he didn't get to the top so I don't see it happening now against top tier opposition. Give their UFC opponents bigger gloves, no threat of a takedown and kicks and they'll be defending properly so their boxing wouldn't look anywhere near as good.
I would pick Pereira to put up the best showing because he has a long and successful kickboxing career with a single fight in boxing. He carries one punch power and mostly relies on his punches rather than any other aspect of MMA. His opponent, Opateia, is less proven than the rest of the boxing guys posted because he doesn't have a deep resume, just a couple of top wins in a thin division.
Oliveira could have potentially been a real handful as a boxer, with that cardio, punch and deadly instinct. Chin has become highly suspect though.
I don't really think the UFC guys are interested either way are they? I remember a spaced out Chuck Liddell once muttering something about Tommy Morrison in an interview, but that's about it.
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golden_labrador
- Super Bantamweight
- Posts: 1752
- Joined: 25 Dec 2020, 18:18
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
what's the betting on Tom Aspinall crossing over at some point?
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Could do. Fight a Fury maybegolden_labrador wrote: ↑12 Nov 2023, 16:59 what's the betting on Tom Aspinall crossing over at some point?
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golden_labrador
- Super Bantamweight
- Posts: 1752
- Joined: 25 Dec 2020, 18:18
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
I see he's sparred with them in the pastsi7dog7 wrote: ↑12 Nov 2023, 17:04Could do. Fight a Fury maybegolden_labrador wrote: ↑12 Nov 2023, 16:59 what's the betting on Tom Aspinall crossing over at some point?
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
I think they are friends so it could well happengolden_labrador wrote: ↑12 Nov 2023, 17:22I see he's sparred with them in the pastsi7dog7 wrote: ↑12 Nov 2023, 17:04Could do. Fight a Fury maybegolden_labrador wrote: ↑12 Nov 2023, 16:59 what's the betting on Tom Aspinall crossing over at some point?
Depends on how tight the UFC contract is.
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SeanBrennan
- Bantamweight
- Posts: 9634
- Joined: 12 Feb 2022, 12:45
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
he's one heck of an athlete, I dare say he'd garner crossover support. Watched quite a bit of him recently, comes across well, soo does his pa.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Almost every boxing fan thinks Floyd chose to go 10 rounds with McGregor, that he could have finished him in the first if he wanted to. I never seen it like that. To me he was a fighter well passed his best and struggled to get to grips with the unusual style McGregor presented. Sure, Mayweather was acting like he was coasting, but personally, i think if he could have gotten McGregor out of their in the first few rounds he would have, but he was unable to. As the fight progressed he started to up the ante and push for the finish, but it took him time, Floyd simply was not the fighter he used to be in his younger days. I'm not saying he went into the fight with the same focus, determination, gameplan he did against the likes of Oscar, Cotto, Canelo etc, but i dont think he expected McGregor to do so well early on and i dont think he carried him anywhere near as much as most boxing fans do. Unpopular opinion i know.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
I remember a boxer in MMA with an 11-2 record. He fought in Strikeforce with a couple in the UFC after the buyout. KJ Noons husband, and he looked an elite boxer against the less experienced MMA guys of the pre-2013ish era he fought in. Anyone who sparred MMA guys in that area will tell you they were punchbags, even for Am lads.
The thing is MMA guys are now much more rounded, train more hours than boxers due to multiple disciplines, and now maybe see another dimension to the standard, and sometimes rigid boxing stances & coaching.
Boxing will have to learn & evolve from this.
The thing is MMA guys are now much more rounded, train more hours than boxers due to multiple disciplines, and now maybe see another dimension to the standard, and sometimes rigid boxing stances & coaching.
Boxing will have to learn & evolve from this.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Are we now taking the pi$$
Theoretically
Let’s put Leon Edwards in with Bud.
Winner takes all.
Queensbury rules.
Give each a bonus for a 3- round stoppage.
What happens?
There is one blooming answer.
Its all sales for McGregor/Mayweather Fury/Francis
We all know this
Boxing rules one thing
MMA another
Can you imagine Francis v Fury in a hex?
How long till Fury gasses? 45 seconds
Apples and oranges
Theoretically
Let’s put Leon Edwards in with Bud.
Winner takes all.
Queensbury rules.
Give each a bonus for a 3- round stoppage.
What happens?
There is one blooming answer.
Its all sales for McGregor/Mayweather Fury/Francis
We all know this
Boxing rules one thing
MMA another
Can you imagine Francis v Fury in a hex?
How long till Fury gasses? 45 seconds
Apples and oranges
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 100700
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Since the last post, we saw Ngannou drop and lose a very close decision to the supposed #1 HW boxer at the time..
Then few months later, we saw AJ deal with Ngannou exactly how he was supposed to.
Then few months later, we saw AJ deal with Ngannou exactly how he was supposed to.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
What a thread bump man.Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑21 Oct 2024, 09:38 Since the last post, we saw Ngannou drop and lose a very close decision to the supposed #1 HW boxer at the time..
Then few months later, we saw AJ deal with Ngannou exactly how he was supposed to.
The real point I wanna make is Fury looked garbage against Ngannou then gave the toughest fight ever to Usyk.
I think motivation and the general weirdness of crossovers plays a massive part, now I’ve seen a few of them.
The style of the boxer seems to make a big difference. Look at Tommy, Floyd and Tyson against AJ
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JamesPhilips
- Super Bantamweight
- Posts: 6452
- Joined: 19 Mar 2021, 06:43
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
I agree. I thought McGregor did surprisingly well. He hit Floyd more than most boxers did.ALI wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 03:47 Almost every boxing fan thinks Floyd chose to go 10 rounds with McGregor, that he could have finished him in the first if he wanted to. I never seen it like that. To me he was a fighter well passed his best and struggled to get to grips with the unusual style McGregor presented. Sure, Mayweather was acting like he was coasting, but personally, i think if he could have gotten McGregor out of their in the first few rounds he would have, but he was unable to. As the fight progressed he started to up the ante and push for the finish, but it took him time, Floyd simply was not the fighter he used to be in his younger days. I'm not saying he went into the fight with the same focus, determination, gameplan he did against the likes of Oscar, Cotto, Canelo etc, but i dont think he expected McGregor to do so well early on and i dont think he carried him anywhere near as much as most boxing fans do. Unpopular opinion i know.
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big lennox
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 2550
- Joined: 06 Feb 2004, 13:44
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
That's how I saw the Mayweather vs McGregor fight as well.ALI wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 03:47 Almost every boxing fan thinks Floyd chose to go 10 rounds with McGregor, that he could have finished him in the first if he wanted to. I never seen it like that. To me he was a fighter well passed his best and struggled to get to grips with the unusual style McGregor presented. Sure, Mayweather was acting like he was coasting, but personally, i think if he could have gotten McGregor out of their in the first few rounds he would have, but he was unable to. As the fight progressed he started to up the ante and push for the finish, but it took him time, Floyd simply was not the fighter he used to be in his younger days. I'm not saying he went into the fight with the same focus, determination, gameplan he did against the likes of Oscar, Cotto, Canelo etc, but i dont think he expected McGregor to do so well early on and i dont think he carried him anywhere near as much as most boxing fans do. Unpopular opinion i know.
That said, McGregor is a much bigger guy than Mayweather. Had McGregor been boxing someone his own size, someone like GGG, for example, it wouldn't have gone 10 rounds and would have been brutal for the MMA fighter.
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TheLeprechaun
- Middleweight
- Posts: 5137
- Joined: 27 Jun 2013, 20:42
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Yes, McGregor is much worse than Berto. McGregor is awful. Terrible question.handsofstone wrote: ↑05 Nov 2023, 06:53Yeh me too but was McGregor any worse than Berto? Mayweather could've stopped a few more opponents if he tried, he was nearly always a cut above, he carried a fair few of his opponents but why can't someone just ice their overmatched opponent? It's getting out of hand, I'm in danger of thinking the gap maybe ain't all thatFrostieballs wrote: ↑05 Nov 2023, 05:47 I think Mayweather could have stopped McGregor very early if he wanted. That was a mismatch.
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TheLeprechaun
- Middleweight
- Posts: 5137
- Joined: 27 Jun 2013, 20:42
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
He definitely carried him. He was throwing arm punches and just standing there with a high guard. McGregor was terrible in the fight. The level of knowledge of posters has to be questioned when they post things like this.ALI wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 03:47 Almost every boxing fan thinks Floyd chose to go 10 rounds with McGregor, that he could have finished him in the first if he wanted to. I never seen it like that. To me he was a fighter well passed his best and struggled to get to grips with the unusual style McGregor presented. Sure, Mayweather was acting like he was coasting, but personally, i think if he could have gotten McGregor out of their in the first few rounds he would have, but he was unable to. As the fight progressed he started to up the ante and push for the finish, but it took him time, Floyd simply was not the fighter he used to be in his younger days. I'm not saying he went into the fight with the same focus, determination, gameplan he did against the likes of Oscar, Cotto, Canelo etc, but i dont think he expected McGregor to do so well early on and i dont think he carried him anywhere near as much as most boxing fans do. Unpopular opinion i know.
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
PBF deliberately stood in front of him, made him work, parried his shots and wore him out
Yes PBF was past his best, which is why he took that fight and other walk abouts to earn the big money.
His tactics were perfect to use what he had left.
He was never a one punch banger
Yes PBF was past his best, which is why he took that fight and other walk abouts to earn the big money.
His tactics were perfect to use what he had left.
He was never a one punch banger
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handsofstone
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 22983
- Joined: 11 Jan 2011, 17:28
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
Clearly I'm talking about their showings against Mayweather, go watch the fights again and tell me what Berto done that impressed you so muchTheLeprechaun wrote: ↑21 Oct 2024, 17:22Yes, McGregor is much worse than Berto. McGregor is awful. Terrible question.handsofstone wrote: ↑05 Nov 2023, 06:53Yeh me too but was McGregor any worse than Berto? Mayweather could've stopped a few more opponents if he tried, he was nearly always a cut above, he carried a fair few of his opponents but why can't someone just ice their overmatched opponent? It's getting out of hand, I'm in danger of thinking the gap maybe ain't all thatFrostieballs wrote: ↑05 Nov 2023, 05:47 I think Mayweather could have stopped McGregor very early if he wanted. That was a mismatch.
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margaret thatcher
- Featherweight
- Posts: 39204
- Joined: 22 Jul 2019, 15:43
Re: Why can't boxers comfortably beat crossovers?
i think floyd just didnt take anything about that fight seriously. not that he was intentionally trying to make mcgregor look competitive or trying to go a certain number of rounds before finishing. then factor in that floyd was older and mcgregor was prob as up for it as possible
some guys show a very similar dynamic when facing lower level boxers, look mediocre against a journeyman because they obviously dont take it as seriously, then deliver when they fight someone more serious
i remember callum smith going on a 1 round ko rampage at euro level, then he fought a stay busy vs an argentinian midget and struggled to get going and got taken into 6 or 7 while getting tagged regularly. smith also had a very ho hum decision over a last minute kickboxer replacement in the wbss, before stopping groves in the final. going through old british records you'll see lotsa 77-75 type wins guys have over journeymen between winning much bigger fights too
when one guy is totally fired up and the other isn't, it can bring them a lot closer than they would be purely on ability
some guys show a very similar dynamic when facing lower level boxers, look mediocre against a journeyman because they obviously dont take it as seriously, then deliver when they fight someone more serious
i remember callum smith going on a 1 round ko rampage at euro level, then he fought a stay busy vs an argentinian midget and struggled to get going and got taken into 6 or 7 while getting tagged regularly. smith also had a very ho hum decision over a last minute kickboxer replacement in the wbss, before stopping groves in the final. going through old british records you'll see lotsa 77-75 type wins guys have over journeymen between winning much bigger fights too
when one guy is totally fired up and the other isn't, it can bring them a lot closer than they would be purely on ability