Earlier today, we wrote about how top boxing trainer Freddie Roach recently stated that he had heard UFC star Conor McGregor was struggling in his boxing training against some professionals.
Well, one of those pros has now spoken out, claiming that 'The Notorious One' isn't actually that bad.
Speaking in an interview with Submission Radio, Chris van Heerden recently sparred with McGregor in a gym - It was the session with Van Heerden that was filmed on a mobile and leaked onto the web last week. Anyway, according to Van Heercen, Conor can definitely handle himself inside the ring - but he's just not good enough to beat Mayweather.
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"Can Conor McGregor box? Yes. He can. I was shocked at how well he could handle himself in the ring," Van Heerden said.
"You can immediately see that Conor’s got a boxing background and that he knows how to use his hands. Yes, Conor can fight."
Interesting Critique
The 28-year-old South African then went on to give a bit of a critique about McGregor's style inside the ring and how he needs to improve.
"It’s the important things that showed, like the footwork, the balancing of the feet, crossing the feet, where he places his feet, his defence – the small things that a boxer is so focused on and Conor McGregor lacks, and it was easy for me to capitalise on mistakes like that."
The former IBO welterweight champion then went on to add that if McGregor went at boxing properly, having an intensive camp set purely on his stand up game, then he could become a decent boxer, with a chance against other pros.
No Chance Against Floyd
"I would honestly say, if Conor McGregor can focus on his stand up game on boxing – let’s say he can get a two, three-month training camp where he can mainly focus on his boxing ability and polish some skills, some small mistakes, Conor can shock a lot of boxers out there by just what he might do."
However, while he can improve, there is no way he can get up to Mayweather's level, as Van Heerden added that Floyd would be able to KO McGregor at any point
"Mayweather will end the fight whenever Mayweather feels like it."
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