Antonio Tarver is one of the greatest boxers of all-time and he recently became the striking coach for the Blackzilians.
Tarver now joins the list full of combat sports personalities who has given a prediction on the potential super fight between UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“Not a chance in hell,” Tarver said on The MMA Hour. “Because Conor McGregor can’t beat the top-20 in the division, how the f*ck is he going to beat Floyd Mayweather? Not a f*cking chance in hell (of even a puncher’s chance), because he’s not punching with those four-ounce gloves on. He’s punching with 10-ounce gloves on. Big difference. It’s a money fight. I don’t know if it’s a mockery, but it’s a money fight. That’s what it’s all about. Conor McGregor can’t beat Nate Diaz in a boxing match. In a boxing match, [Diaz] will beat his ass, and there’s a whole lot of other fighters out there who will beat his ass in a boxing match.”
The former boxing great hasn’t competed since fighting Steve Cunningham to a draw in August 2015. The boxer's current record sits at 31-6-1-1NC.
Not only does Tarver believe that Mayweather Jr. can defeat McGregor, the boxing great feels that Mayweather Jr. would score the knockout.
“I think Floyd can knock him out, because Floyd is a boxer,” Tarver said. “[McGregor] is not going to know what to do. He hasn’t had the repetitions. He hasn’t had the experiences. He don’t know what it’s going to take. Sh*t, he gets tired in a five-round fight, even though they’re going five rounds and they’re wrestling. What the hell you think is going to happen in round six, seven, if he gets that far? When he’s mentally fatigued and tired? Because I’ve seen him in the Octagon getting mentally fatigued and tired. So he just needs to be taught.”
While Mayweather Jr. and Tarver are legends in the boxing world, the UFC Lightweight Champion has no boxing experience to speak of.
