Does McGregor Deserve Respect from Boxing Fans?

[Ricky_]

I've long bashed the UFC as being nothing but unskilled brawlers on here before, so I fully wanted and expected Floyd to make a clown out of McGregor - who i believed would have zero defence, awful footwork, an unbalanced stance, a chin hanging in the air, etc. I wanted to be proven right by seeing McGregor really embarrass himself and his sport.

But, that wasn't the case imo. A rusty Floyd, in the first 6 minutes, found himself in with a sharper boxer, someone who surprised him picking some counter uppercuts, that was accurately jabbing.

I begrudgingly admit that McGregor brought more to the table than most of us are probably willing to admit. In fact the only thing he had going for him - his power - was non-existant, probably due to having slower hands with the weight of the gloves/wraps, but the technical areas we all thought he would be weak in, he proved he learned enough - in 12 weeks - to hang-in there for 4 or 5 rounds with a master pugilist at the highest level the sport gets. I thought he was very impressive given the rather unusual circumstances.

[Covfefe]

A sharp boxer?

No footwork, no technique and no power. All obvious inside the first round.

[Srebmun]

Have a word with yourself.

[Ricky_]

A sharp boxer?

No footwork, no technique and no power. All obvious inside the first round.

Do you reckon you would have better technique after a single 12-week training camp?

[Noxy]

I was impressed by his toughness. He was never off his feet and he kept at it.

[Covfefe]

A sharp boxer?

No footwork, no technique and no power. All obvious inside the first round.

Do you reckon you would have better technique after a single 12-week training camp?

No relevance whatsoever.

[Covfefe]

I was impressed by his toughness. He was never off his feet and he kept at it.

Yes, couldn't fault his chin. Though he could definitely learn to hide it better.

[BitPlayer]

Respect for being good at what a does (UFC).

Not as a boxer.

[boxing_rocks]

He deserves respect for not quitting when completely gassed and taking punishment, but somebody as limited as Provo would take him out inside 2 rounds.

[Ricky_]

He deserves respect for not quitting when completely gassed and taking punishment, but somebody as limited as Provo would take him out inside 2 rounds.

Why do people keep citing these world champions as an example of who would beat McGregor? He's clearly nowhere near world level, i don't think anyone is claiming he is.

[Tony1244]

Sure, he deserves respect for trying and anyone who says they would have turned down the purse if they were McGregor should have their head examined.

[ewenhay]

A sharp boxer?

No footwork, no technique and no power. All obvious inside the first round.

Do you reckon you would have better technique after a single 12-week training camp?

I get your point Ricky but this wasn't sold as an all time great v novice bout.

[crusader]

McG is an athletic guy with good timing, and he won a few rounds where Floyd did nothing, but I don't think he deserves respect for what he showed in the 'technical areas'. He was upright with his chin in the air, and his punch form was awful. You can see better technique from teenagers on local amateur cards...

[Blodhemn]

Nah, he doesn't. Talked his way into a fight where he didn't belong simply for the money. The majority of boxers don't get credit for wins. Can't imagine the kind of backlash someone would normally get for talking so much trash and ending up in such poor shape. The egg on one's face would be of legendary proportion.

[Ricky_]

McG is an athletic guy with good timing, and he won a few rounds where Floyd did nothing, but I don't think he deserves respect for what he showed in the 'technical areas'. He was upright with his chin in the air, and his punch form was awful. You can see better technique from teenagers on local amateur cards...

His punch form got progressively worse, which is understandable. Local amateurs don't box ATGs in scheduled 12's.

[crusader]

He never showed me good technique at any point, and he was all pushed arm punches after just a few rounds.

[gilgamesh]

He shouldn't be taken seriously as a threat to any Elite boxers in or around his weight anytime soon, but I don't see why he'd be unworthy of respect for the performance. He did what he could.

[crusader]

He deserves respect for not quitting when completely gassed and taking punishment, but somebody as limited as Provo would take him out inside 2 rounds.

Why do people keep citing these world champions as an example of who would beat McGregor? He's clearly nowhere near world level, i don't think anyone is claiming he is.

I think in part because it serves as a way to suggest that his early competitiveness was mainly down to how Floyd chose to fight. If Floyd could not hang with Conor at times, shouldn't we be treating Conor like a legit pro boxer who might be able to beat guys like Provo, Jessie Vargas, and Jeff Horn?

[greg]

..I'll give him no more and no less respect that I'll give anyone who gets into the ring...other than that he was beaten, in fact TKOed, and I quote by a "brittle-handed old man who weighed 25lb less"..

[tiny_acres]

..I'll give him no more and no less respect that I'll give anyone who gets into the ring...other than that he was beaten, in fact TKOed, and I quote by a "brittle-handed old man who weighed 25lb less"..

[Sequitorian]

No ... he doesn't deserve to get any respect from boxing fans ... (or anyone else) ...

[Ossyrules]

The poll doesn't give an option I want to click tbh. He deserves credit, but not because he showed any real boxing skills or sharpness. The credit he gets is that he was a novice boxer and he didn't get took out in a few rounds like a novice should.

We have to be realistic though, the minutes of this fight Conor win, Floyd let him win. If anyone thinks Conor cane out and was dictating and Floyd was second best and had to switch up, be serious, Floyd carried him early. Conor was absolutely wide open to be countered, chin hanging out from the first minute. If Floyd had any intention he could have found it. Mcgregor looked stiff as a board, punches with his arms only, many of them just pawing, footwork like a rookie. Come on his "skills" were basic. This was probably the easiest fight of Floyds career and his sparring would have been tougher in many camps.

Also while mcgregor was a boxing rookie, mma guys do train boxing. He's also experienced performer on big shows. He's not mr average joe off the street never fought nobody.

[Tanzio]

I don't think that he cares much about whether we respect him or not. He is pocketing $100,000,000 for a losing effort. He can live without our respect.

I expected a choreographed farce. I think that we got a real fight. I think that he won three rounds. He never quit. He was difficult for FMJ to figure out at 40, having been retired for two years and giving up at minimum 20 pounds plus height and reach advantages to McG.

McG fought well, although he should have had a minimum of 2 points deducted for blatant, repetitive fouls. It was obvious that it was agreed upon prior to the fight that those type fouls would be overlooked.

I respect McG's preparation, his showmanship, his competitiveness, and his success.

[pizzakid13]

My lack of respect is directed at floyd for carrying a novice to sell a farce of a fight. Disrespectful to boxing honestly.

[Nile4000]

He deserves respect for getting in the ring, and attempting to make this farce work, nothing more.