Why Freddie Roach says Conor McGregor has chance to beat Floyd Mayweather in boxing

When it comes to assessing how a potential Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor boxing match could play out, Freddie Roach has a unique perspective.

Roach’s credentials as a legendary boxing trainer speak for themselves, having trained great champions Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, among others. Roach also has been called upon by some prominent mixed martial artists to shore up their handwork, chief among them former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

So, with that in mind, his opinion as to how McGregor would perform in the ring against an all-time great boxer carries some weight.

While he told MMAFighting.com that the reigning UFC lightweight champion would “have his hands full with a boxer like Floyd,” Roach didn’t rule out McGregor’s chances of a stunning victory.

“He is a pretty good striker,” Roach said. “The thing is, Floyd is a great boxer. He’s really good at hitting and not getting hit and so forth. I think it would take a long time for Conor to get ready for a boxing match, a pure boxing match.

“But, ya know, one punch can change everything. It’s the sport we’re in. I’m not gonna count him out completely. I think Mayweather is the favorite, yes, but I wouldn’t count anyone out. Because he throws, he throws hard, and he’s not afraid to throw.”

Most boxing folks give McGregor zero chance in a boxing match against Mayweather. Roach isn’t among them. And considering the source, that counts for something, doesn’t it?

For more on the upcoming UFC schedule, visit the Rumors section of the site.