RENOWNED BOXING PROMOTER Bob Arum has dismissed claims that Conor McGregor might become a ‘dual star’ of combat sports, as the UFC lightweight champion’s boxing match with pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather nears.
Speaking at his media workout on Friday, McGregor declared that he would rule both boxing and MMA “with an iron fist,” explaining that “boxing has been dear to my heart my entire life.”
According to Top Rank CEO Arum, however, the former Crumlin Boxing Club novice will be borderline unpromotable by 27 August.
“After he fights Mayweather, the only promoter I think who might be interested in promoting him is [less prominent, East Coast-based] Artie Pelulo,” Arum told Lance Pugmire of the LA Times.
Who the **** would want to promote this guy? He can’t fight for ****. Don’t you understand? He’s not a boxer. It’ll take him years to understand. And there’s so many more talented guys around.
“If you’re going to get yourself in serious discussions about this guy winning, you’re going to look like a fool.”
Arum did admit that, when talks between McGregor’s camp and that of Mayweather had stalled, he did want the Irish southpaw to throw down in the ring with his own money man, Manny Pacquiao, but purely for financial reasons.
The 85-year-old, whose company Top Rank also promotes two-time Irish Olympian Michael Conlan, maintains we won’t see McGregor back in the squared circle after his showdown with Mayweather in Las Vegas.
“The ship will be revealed as having no ballast and once it’s on the water it’s the Sinkable Molly Brown,” he told the Times. “Of course I wanted Pacquiao to fight McGregor. Because it was easy money for Pacquiao. It was an opportunity for Pacquiao to pick up big, easy money. This is a one-off thing.
“[McGregor] has absolutely no reason to be in the ring with a skilled, professional fighter. And if I was wrong, why didn’t he fight some journeyman to show you belong in the ring?”
As for his own new star man, Vasyl Lomachenko – who recently offered his services as a sparring partner to McGregor to much excitement – Arum revealed that he’s eyeing 9 December for the Ukrainian’s ring return, versus either Orlando Salido in a rematch in Los Angeles, or Cuban nemesis Guillermo Rigondeaux in New York.
[LA Times]
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Got to love Bob! Of course he’s angry at losing out on a PACvMAC fight, but he is spot on about McGregor in the boxing ring being a joke.
@Seriously: he says “who the f would want to promote this guy” but also wanted Pac Vs McGregor because it would be a good deal financially. Seems like those two statements contradict eachother. McGregor will almost certainly lose but in terms of making money, why not promote him.
@Conor Flynn: they don’t contradict eachother. he said “after august 27th” no one will want to promote Conor. It’s basically a one time fight for Conor V A Top Boxer, as he obviously thinks it’s gonna be an ass whooping and no one will want to see Conor fight again
@Liam is drinking Tea: *box again
Hes fighting the best Bob there is nobody else.
Lomachenko will be one of the greatest ever, what a fighter.
@conex: He’ll have to fight rigondeaux to show that doesn’t help Arum over him and won’t let the fight happen unless his pockets are full!
@conex: He’s the man.
Some many deluded Mcgregor fans, making ridiculous counter-arguments, alot like Trump supporters. Lads he’s going to lose. Please accept he’s only doing this for money and will be completely outclassed.
@Sam Bingham: if you think he’s just doing this for money you’re highly mistaken…
Why do people feel the need to make trite Trump comparisons with everything? McGregor is gonna lose, Mayweather is undefeated for a reason. But I must say, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the constant moaning and vitriol coming out of (Irish) people in the lead up to this fight.
@Acedeuce: Highly mistaken? Oh please the only reason this fight is happening is down to money. Don’t be so naive. Conor may have confidence but make no mistake about it money is the big motivator here.. why do you think he’s wearing clunky football helmet looking headgear in all of his sparring? He’d rather go into the fight slightly less sharp than risk an injury or cut in sparring and possibly having to delay or pull out of the fight.
@Sam Bingham: correct me if i’m wrong, m8, but didn’t trump win an election?
@Brian: I’m not saying the money isn’t a bug motivator.. But conors just not doing it for the money… Winning is just important to him
Well when ex heavyweight boxing champ James Toney stepped into the UFC octagon with Randy Couture it was all over in the first round. Toney had to tap out or he’d have been put to sleep.
@Gary: What if it had been the other way round?
@Gary: Are you saying in comparison that Floyd will manhandle Conor in relative boxing terms? Seems to be the only explanation for your comment.
@Gary: Also, Toney was 41 years old coming off a streak of winning 3 out of 7 boxing matches, mostly to journeymen. It’s hardly a comparison to this, he wasn’t even mastering his own craft anymore where Conor is in the prime of his.
Arum is right in the sense that McGregor is not boxer. He’s going to get knocked out by Floyd Mayweather and he would be beaten by any top level fighter in Boxing today. McGregor should either retire from fighting or continue with his MMA career.
Hopefully he sees your comment SYM, then he’ll realise the huge mistake he’s made. He can cancel the upcoming fight and finally get his act together. Maybe he could hire you full time to give him ongoing advice.
@O Swetenham: His comment went over your head, but it’s ok. He clearly means after taking a possible beating and a nice payday he should stick to MMA or at least not bother boxing again. We know you are a bit simple minded though so if you want me to break down any other people’s comments for you give me a shout.
@Brian: Awwhh, did I insult your ickle fwiend Brian. That’s very cute. Perhaps it’s you that might need assistance with your comprehension. There was no mention of a “possible beating” in his comment. He said McGregor would be knocked out with absolute certainty. Then he proceeded to give career advice to an individual who his about to make roughly 100 million dollars in one night.
@O Swetenham: I’m the one who added the “possibility” factor, and such an addition made no difference to the point of the aforementioned comment. Keep trying, little guy.
@O Swetenham: No he hasn’t made a mistake. In fact he’s made the best decision of his life. He’ll lose the fight. But this is about the money.
Isn’t everything about the money?
@O Swetenham: Financial McGregor is already a winner, Regardless of how soon Floyd ends the fight. McGregor has nothing to lose, Everything he left behind in the UFC is still there for him if he wants to continue fighting. A fight with, Ferguson, Khabib, Diaz 3. etc. But going the boxing route makes no sense, He’s just going to get smashed by any top level boxer 147 to 168.
@SYM-Metal:
‘he would be beaten by any top level fighter in Boxing today’ except of course by Paulie-I-felt-a-push-or-was-it-just-head-trauma-Malignaggi.
You boxing fanbois crack me up, the notion that any pro-boxer could beat Conor has been irrefutably debunked, get over it.
Who da fook is this guy??? On August 26th I’m gonna go in der.. Crack em with a jab and THAT’S ALL SHE WROTE!!!
Bob is a money hungry idiot. He’s bitter about any event that he isn’t promoting, he’d promote a shoe if it would make him $10 . Obviously the only way Conor would be promoted is if he gives a good effort in the fight, so that talk he’s spewing regardless of being true or false isn’t even relevant.
People make it too much about the money. Yeah it’s about that too. Are people pretending it’s not the same for Mayweather? The thing is everyone expects McGregor to lose, even I do, but are we really looking forward to just watching him last a minute or two before sneering ” haha, told ya so!” like pathetic children in a playground. Everyone is intrigued by the possibility of ‘what if’ he actually surprised us. Something about fighters who win a lot or all the time is they don’t want to risk that moment where they could lose and in this case, a big way. That would be a major psychological blow, even with that money on the table. A winner doesn’t get to where they are in sport by doing it solely for the money.
Bitter auld cnt trying to get noticed.Mcgregor is going to spin that iron fist shit he knows it’s bull. He is the bigger fool for quoting him. I don’t think mcgregor has much chance but I didn’t think he did against aldo. Would love if he shocked everyone.
Watch just watch,roll on the 27th there be alot of IRISH fuc#king IRISH begrudging fools eating humble pie,shame on ya not getting behind our own.bet ya be all watching it
@Derek mc keever: Begrudgery or being realistic?
@Derek mc keever: just because you don’t like or don’t support someone, doesn’t make you a begrudger.
@Conor Flynn: Sees it for what it is, a one off freakshow and a chance to bleed suckers for easy money. One word to describe someone who thinks it will be worth watching… Fool. Mayweather’s fights are boring and now he’s fighting a guy that’s never boxed professionally, so how can people assume it will a must see?