ON ONE OF my first trips to Las Vegas with Conor McGregor, probably back in 2014, I recall him mentioning the possibility of a fight against Floyd Mayweather.
I stopped doubting him a long time ago at this stage, but I remember at the time laughing it off as nothing more than a novel idea that could never possibly become a reality.
Now here we are and it’s just over nine weeks away. It’s pretty incredible what’s happened in such a short space of time. But it’s great and my excitement for this is increasing with each passing day. It’s hard not to feel that way when you’re around Conor. His enthusiasm is infectious.
Last Friday I received the keys to a new unit which we’ve transformed into a custom boxing gym, which is located near our regular Straight Blast Gym base on the Naas Road. By Monday the place had been cleaned, a competition ring was installed, as well as a bag area.
We’re in the midst of three good weeks of training here in Ireland, before departing for Las Vegas in mid-July. I believe there will be quite a large media world tour squeezed in there as well.
You may have caught a glimpse of the interior of the gym on social media over the last few days, as I arranged for a large mural to be painted just behind the ring by the people at Subset.ie. It depicts Conor landing a left hand on Mayweather.
I wanted to put something suitable on the wall because Conor is a big believer in visualisation and manifesting what you can conceive into reality. That’s the shot we believe will win the fight for Conor and it’s now there for us to see whenever we train.
A lot of very experienced and respected boxers have been in touch to offer their help for this training camp, but we’re keeping our cards close to our chest for now at least.
There will be sparring with guys we’re already familiar with but we will also be bringing in some guys who I think people will be impressed with. But I’ll leave it to Conor to reveal that, should he choose to do so.
Many of the questions I’ve been receiving over the past week have focused on when Conor will fight in the UFC again. My expectation is that it will happen this year, although it’s always difficult to predict what Conor is going to do next.
If he goes in there and knocks out Mayweather in the first round, there will probably be talk of rematches and stuff like that. But the tentative plan, as I see it, is certainly for a fight in the UFC in December. But in the meantime we’re completely focused on boxing and Floyd Mayweather.
I believe we have a number of advantages going into this fight. Often, people who are experts in a certain field will tell you that it can actually be more awkward to deal with somebody who’s not from the same field. They’d rather deal with the top contender from their own discipline because he’ll move in a way that you assume he’ll move.
Mayweather has been in the boxing world for his entire career and everyone he’s faced has moved in a certain way that he’s pre-conditioned to handle. Now he’s going up against a guy who doesn’t follow any set patterns, who can deploy a variety of different styles of fighting and is not one bit intimidated. Conor is — as we all are here — 100% confident in victory. That kind of person is very difficult to deal with.
When we went to Sweden for Conor’s UFC debut in 2013, if we had said then that he is going to be a champion simultaneously in two UFC divisions in three years’ time, people may have seen that as a less realistic goal than fighting Floyd Mayweather one day. Yet here we are.
The fact that he has constantly been written off is never going to change. Conor could beat Mayweather and people will say: “Yeah, but he hasn’t fought Manny Pacquaio yet.”
There’s a running theme with his career where firstly an idea will seem ridiculous, secondly it’s eventually accepted, and then finally people will come up with a new challenge which apparently he’ll never be able to overcome. We’re used to it now and that’s fine with us.
We’re not going over to Las Vegas to make up the numbers on 26 August. When this contest takes place, we’ll be 100% ready — physically and mentally — and nothing other than victory will be acceptable.
We’re looking forward to shocking the world — again.
Playin Walters on the wing instead of cox and move Long upfront.. But it’s a change. Seeing Coleman starting is excellent.
Yea well done Trap!, play Walters, a big target man and not that mobile…Mertesacker will be delighted not having to deal with a small fast player like Long who could cause him all sorts of problems.
Nice one, Wlaters and Long are pretty much the same height. I would also prefer Long to Walters, but why persist with Cox on the wing? Hope that walters plays the wing and Cox through the middle.
Big per is more than capable of looking after nippy forwards!!! Just ask Suarez after the anfield game played in September.
thats not a bad midfield though. Great chance for McCarthy to shine. Massive night for him. Really happy for Fahy too. Hope he does well
All in all a fairly balanced side with the option of swapping Walters and Cox throughout the first half with Long coming in around the 55 min mark.
My main worry is Ward
Wilson would be more reliable than ward and long is better than walters. he’s on fire for West Brom this year . At least we have three in da middle
Wilson would be more reliable than ward and long is better than walters. he’s on fire for West Brom this year . At least we have three in da middle And thank god that useless whealan is injured
I agree, feel more confidence with this midfield, one things for sure Walters won’t be bullied or intimidated he will let the two centre half know he’s there from the word go
Where is Paul McShane?!?!?!?!
Get back to the ironing woman
Get back to the ironing
It’s called sarcasm, you chauvinist pig.
It’s a joke, quite a funny one, get over it!
Women know as much about football as Ethiopians know about michellin stars.
I cant believe they allowed chauvinist comments like that on here Sarah. Its a disgrace so it is. They must have allowed all the women journalists to go home and get the dinner started before cleaning up this mess.
Ah Adrian, pinch of salt! I just wear my balls on my chest….
Ah Eimear, dont be such a tease.
Iron man is a superhero
Iron woman is a command
Don’t forget the collars on my shirts
Looks like backs to the wall with the occasional punt up to Walters. No Shane Long is disappointing.
I don’t understand why Shane Long is left out of this team. He is the striker on form in the premiership but in typical Trap fashion he picks against form. Walters and Cox had their chance at the Euros and failed.
What is the formation of this team. Surely not Cox on the wing which was obviously a dismal failure at the Euros. Also, Ward was a disaster for the last number of games and does not deserve his place. I fear the consequences.
Why does he persist with Cox on the wing and Ward at left back? – Exasperating. Would play Wilson instead of Ward, maybe Stephen Kelly at right back and push Coleman to right wing, McGeady on the left and Long instead of Walters.
Paul mc Shane !!!!!! Should not even be in the squad no to talk about the starting 11
Semicolon after the goalkeeper and the back four, but none after that. Does that mean we’re playing a 4-6-0?
No 46-0 will be the score line though
Marcas – there’s a semicolon after McGeady to indicate that it’s a 4-5-1 formation, which I think is a good tactical approach. The omission of Long is despicable, he must be seething. Uphill task tomorrow and we needed all our best available players to have any chance.
semi colon after the goalie alright but an a**e running the team.
Won’t play Shane Long because of spat between himself(Trap) grow up Trap and play Long. best striker at moment!
Shane Coleman!
His name is Seamus.
People are never happy. All we’ve heard since June is “we need changes.” We’ll here they are, enforced as they may be.
The team named allows us to play a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 both of which could be effective against a German team who like to pass and break on the wings.
Sure it could all go balls up but let’s at least have a look at the and and then decide whether its worked or not. Never happy i tells ya!!
We might have stood a chance of penetrating them with Long Cox.
WHAT?????!!!! Words fail me….
I can’t understand why I got a shed load of thumbs down…I’m disgusted that Trap is playing Walters over Long. Clearly I’ve been misunderstood or do some people actually think Walters is a better choice…..
Hello? The ironing?
Michellin stars!
( * ) ( * ) check out my Michelins Padraig…
Oh no not hairy nipples
( * ) ( * )
/\
~. ummm
ha, you’re funny…. for a girl. I bet you wouldn’t flash like that in person though.
Bar Long being on the bench i’m fairly happy.. McCarthy and Fahey in there who like to actualy put their foot on the ball and play a bit. if we get the ball that is..
Ironing
Could not agree with you more John. It seems that Trap does not seem to have the capability to learn from previous failed performances such as Ward’s and Cox on the wing. Also, how many goals (apart from penalties) has Walters scored for Stoke. He does not seem to be a natural striker, more of a target man for the likes of Peter Crouch.
Awful awful awful!! National team??? Pfttttt!!
Get to the league of Ireland games this weekend instead! :-))
Eh…..no ಠ_ಠ
Shane long should be in the side but Walters is not a bad option to be fair. Has a great work ethic and is clever. Ward is going to get roasted as usual though. McCarthy is going to shine I think. Hopefully he won’t be bipassed by long balls up front.
Serious question. Is this the worst team Ireland have ever fielded in a competitive fixture?
No wouldn’t say worst. Top 5 maybe..
Paul – looking at the team on a man for man basis, I have to agree with u. Only one player (O Shea) who is a guaranteed starter in the PL every week.
What team of eleven others would you pick yourself, not many players that spring to mind. Just curious as to what other people’s best 11 are
Would’ve preferred to see Shane Long start. But I actually like the look of that team. Hopefully he sticks with that system because it will mean the end of Robbie Points and Moans Keane.
This team has the changes alright but will revert back to four four two. The man is senile
well the good thing about bringing in McShane he got Keane out of the squad the best thing McShane done in years
I would have Ciaran Clark in that back four. No offence to Ward, but he is not a footballer let alone a left back…
I’ve asked it before and i’ll ask again,what has Cox got on Trap? He must have something that he’s blackmailing him with. He can get goals but not a wide man,won’t work back and not a striker to play up top on his own so completely not suited to this game.
Please hope the bus breaks down going to the match as no matter who’s missing their a looses shower all they care about is their club careers
troll
Not true u fool they love meetin up for internationals
long getting a raw deal off Leslie neilsen, im delighted keane and mcshane are going to stay in and watch the late late,ward and o shea worry me
Simon Cox? On the right wing? What has he got on Trap? There is no logical reason why he is being picked. He’s a penalty box striker who has no ball skills, no pace and no tricks! Play him up front if he needs to be in the team but not on the wing.
He’s hot! : p
Who’s Jogi Loewe?
What about having Long-Cox upfront, that would have worried (or maybe excited) ze Germans?!
Ehhhh.. Who’s Shane Coleman at all?? Never heard of him!!!
i fear were going to get a hammering in this game ,hope im wrong
What has Simon Cox got on Trap? It has to be something very incriminating
5-0 to ireland
The inclusion, at last, of Coleman is to be welcomed but don’t expect him to attack the way he does so well for Everton. If the ‘mentality guru’ stays true to form Seamus won’t be allowed past the half-way line. Agree that Wilson better option than Ward. Ward regular medium performer in championship chosen ahead of Wilson regular high performer in premiership. O’Dea regular performer in MLS chosen over Clark regular high performer in premiership. Cox irregular medium performer in championship chosen over Long regular high performer in premiership. You could possibly add Fahey to this although he has to be given a chance first. So much for the once vaunted criteria for selection of a need to be playing at the highest level regularly!
Yet, there are changes (enforced) and I hope a tactical change to boot but I won’t hold my breath. We need everyone in the team playing out of their skin tonight to have any chance of securing a draw at best. But then given how the ‘eejit’ got out of jail in Kazhakstan who knows what will happen?
Anyway heading down to BAC later and trying to be positive. We need to get behind the team tonight and to make Landsdowne intimidating for visiting teams. I don’t think COYBIG or (perish the thought) the damned ‘ole ole’ really cut the mustard. Any ideas anyone?
if rep. of irelands young team are fit and soccer skilled an watch opposition Germany offence, shadow tight and don’t foul. Remember theirs only 11 players on their team as well, and you guys can beat them! come on ireland !
Cheers John
Ward is the weakest link on the team. Absolute rubbish at left full. Delighted Coleman is getting at start though think it should have been on the wing with mcgeady on the other wing. Cox is playing v well and scoring some great goals for forest this season but he’s not a winger. Walters is an ox, can hold the ball up really well up front on his own which is why I think he’s preferred over long. That and trap is a langball.
Is the match on rte or sky
Both I think.
Trapattoni is a joke of a manager with this team selection clearly he hasn’t picked his strongest side again!!!!!! Mcgeady should be in the rubbish tip also him and ward and cox are going to be the cause of a serious hammering tonight.Trapatonni should leave now before the game so the players might try to play football