Conor McGregor's manager explains biggest misconception of May-Mac showdown

It’s hard to imagine anyone was particularly surprised to see Floyd Mayweather remain a big favorite against Conor McGregor during the entire lead-up to Saturday’s boxing showdown.

The main argument for that is quite simple: While Mayweather (49-0 boxing) has 49 – all victorious – professional boxing bouts, UFC lightweight champ McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) enters the ring at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena carrying a 0-0 professional boxing record.

McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, is not about to dispute those facts. But he does think that a lot of the narrative ahead of “The Money Fight” seems to be overlooking a relevant fact.

“I think the biggest misconception is how everybody is just thinking Conor is some novice boxer, or that this is the first time he’s boxing in his life,” Attar told MMAjunkie Radio this week. “That was the founding martial art that he took up as a young boy. And, obviously, then got into martial arts.

“Irish kids are actually taught boxing. It’s a huge national sport as it relates to combat sports within Ireland. So that was something that he took up right away.

“He’s a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, and he’s getting better constantly. He focuses on complete unarmed combat as it relates to his training and movement. But, in this camp, it’s been all boxing. But it’s not like he’s never thrown hands.”

Not that it’s actually a problem, Attar says. “I like that. Because it makes us the underdog, and it’s just going to be even sweeter when we shock the world.”

Although McGregor will, in fact, enter the ring as the underdog, there’s something to be said for the leap he’s made since the booking was announced. While oddsmakers first priced Mayweather at -2500 when betting lines opened months ago, on Wednesday various casinos showed the Irishman as short as +300.

As far as that goes, however, Attar is not too concerned.

“At the end of the day, though, we don’t really focus on that stuff, really, too much,” Attar said. “It’s out there. We talk about it when we do interviews and media, like I’m doing right now. It’s obviously asked. It’s a natural question.

“But when you go in there, there’s no thinking of odds, underdog and things of that nature. It’s a straight-up athletic competition at the highest level. It’s may the best man win.”

Attar has remained somewhat of a background figure throughout a highly publicized promotion process that involved a multi-country tour and some serious mainstream coverage. But he saw himself in the spotlight earlier this week thanks to his involvement in a heated encounter with Paulie Malignaggi.

While Malignaggi was first thrust into the media whirlwind after an unflattering picture was shared by McGregor, he didn’t really seem to back away from any of the attention that followed. Until, rather predictably, talks of a fight between himself and McGregor came up.

Malignaggi, who’s working Saturday’s Showtime pay-per-view event as a commentator, was outside T-Mobile Arena while Attar assisted McGregor in handling media obligations Tuesday. And then, Attar says, chaos started building.

“Seemed like (Malignaggi) was trying to get my attention, and so I looked,” Attar said. “I was startled initially. I’m like, ‘Come on. Come on, Paulie, let it go.’ But, ultimately, I kind of spoke my peace. And he spoke his. But look, again he seems like a really nice guy. I don’t know. He says he’s only talking because of a picture.

“I think Conor set the record straight as it relates to what happened with that initial picture. But after that … he may not have been used to the volume of media attention that Conor brings. Whether it’s as a sparring partner, even now. Credit to him. He’s trying to position himself for a potential future fight, and I don’t blame him.”

On his end, Attar appreciates the boxer’s role as part of McGregor’s training camp And he understands why Malignaggi would want to fuel this media fire. But that’s not to say he’s OK with it.

“It just strikes me (as) odd that he couldn’t just avoid everybody,” Attar said. “No matter how much attention it was getting and how many people were just asking the same question over and over again. Not to mention the trolls. I can understand, I guess, some of it, but it doesn’t excuse you for breaking any agreement that you make as it relates to confidentiality.”

With a much bigger fight ahead of them, though, Attar expects the former two-division boxing champ to follow the McGregor camp example and – simply put – get over it.

To hear more from Attar, check out the video above.

And for more on “The Money Fight,” check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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