As UFC star Conor McGregor continues to push for a fight against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, he's focusing his training on the new sport.Because boxing is only part of what he does in an MMA fight, McGregor will need all the help he can get in the ring.Enter boxing champion Vasly Lomachenko, the current super featherweight title holder and former featherweight belt-winner. When McGregor said that he didn't need to fight Mayweather and was looking for anyone to face off against in a boxing ring, including "Mutant Ninja Turtles," Lomachenko threw his hat into the mix.He posted a picture of him in a Ninja Turtle suit, which drew a big response from the fighting community. However, Lomachenko told BloodyElbow.com recently that it wasn't meant as a call out, but rather an attempt to connect with the Irish star:“I saw this, and then think, ‘Oh! I have a suit, Ninja Turtle. Why not?’” Lomachenko said. “I send this message for him, but I’m not talking about an official fight. I say (have a) boxing test. If we make a sparring session, I think it will be great for him, because I can show him boxing skills.”The Ninja Turtle suit in question can be seen below, with a caption of "NinjaTurtle Lomanchelo waiting for you in the ring.I can test you" accompanying it:
As a champion in two weight classes, Lomachenko obviously knows a thing or two about boxing. In only eight career fights, the 29-year-old Ukranian has a 7-1 record and won the WBO featherweight title in only his third professional bout.
Lomachenko actually has some experience sparring with UFC athletes, as he recently trained with T.J. Dillashaw, as you can see in the video below:
Dillashaw was impressed with how Lomachenko fought during those four 4-minute rounds, telling ESNews that he appreciated the opportunity to train with the champion:
“He put it on me. He’s animal,” Dillashaw told ESNews. “He’s a cardio machine. He doesn’t give you a break. So much respect. Just to share the ring with the guy was amazing. I would never pass up the opportunity. I wish I was in a little bit better shape, but it was amazing.”
McGregor, at 5'9" and 155 pounds, is bigger than the boxing champ, who stands at only 5'6", but since he has no professional boxing experience, he could still learn a lot from Lomachenko. Learning the nuances and speed of boxing, especially before a fight against a technician like Mayweather, will be important for The Notorious if he wants to have a shot of handing Money his first career loss.