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I vividly remember being a child and dribbling a basketball in my front yard against the always-tough imaginary defense that stood before me.
After about six or seven dribbles, I’d start to count down from 10 in my head – which, of course, meant that we were at the end of the high-stakes game.
When that mental clock went to about four, I’d make my move – always the same sequence every time.
I’d make a crossover dribble, a hop step and then a pump fake. After all that, I’d release a shot into the air as the buzzer in my head sounded to mark the end of my imaginary game.
If the shot went in, I’d go nuts, because my team (usually the Orlando Magic) had just defeated the Chicago Bulls – the squad I always deemed the villain in my fantasies.
If I put up a brick, then it was no biggie. I’d just repeat the sequence over and over again until the shot actually went in.
That’s what kids do.
We pretend to be professional athletes and fantasize about beating the best players in the world at their own game.
The same thing is happening right now in the world of fighting, except it’s not happening in some make-believe fantasy. This is going on in real life, and if it actually materializes, someone is going to get severely hurt in the process – both physically and in reputation.
Multiple reports this past week stated that boxing legend Floyd Mayweather was getting cold feet about retirement (like all boxers tend to do) and was in advanced negotiations to fight UFC star Conor McGregor.
The reports stated that this would be a boxing match and would take place following boxing rules – everything that we’re accustomed to seeing when Mayweather is in competition.
Which leaves me wondering this: If you’re Conor McGregor, why in the heck would you want to fight the best boxer in the world?
It’s one thing to imagine beating the top athletes in the world in a children’s fantasyland. But it’s a whole another thing when you’re in the middle of the ring slugging it out with Mayweather and he’s beating you limb from limb.
Because, folks, that is EXACTLY what would happen if this match takes place.
Look, I like McGregor as much as the next guy. He’s a fascinating character and has been a God-sent to a UFC brand that has quickly become stale because of the oversaturation that’s penetrated the market.
McGregor is the king of MMA, and he’s terrific at what he does. Sure, he lost his last fight to Nate Diaz, but in this sport, that happens.
MMA isn’t like boxing – and I don’t mean that in a good way. When you’re dealing with small gloves, anyone hit flush can get beaten on any given day.
We will never see an MMA guy go 40 or 50-straight fights without a loss. And that’s bad for a business that needs star-power to sell tickets and pay per view buys.
But having said that, it doesn’t make McGregor any less interesting or phenomenal. He’s one of the best in the world at what he does, and he’s going to continue to get better and better for the next decade to come.
But he still can’t outbox Mayweather.
Floyd Mayweather is one of the best boxers in the history of the sport – a guy who is an absolute artist in the ring.
Meathead bloodhounds that don’t know anything about boxing claim he’s a coward because he’s primarily a defender in his fights.
But look at it like this. Isn’t the goal of boxing to avoid being hit? The fact that Mayweather can avoid contact and beat the best competitors in the world – a list that has included Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo Alvarez, Miguel Cotto and many more – is absolutely amazing.
You call it cowardice, but I call it genius and brilliance at work. Mayweather is a superhuman alpha male, who is unappreciated now, but will be talked about for hundreds of years in the sport.
And it’s absolutely absurd for anyone to think that a rookie to the boxing game would walk into a ring cold turkey and knock him off his perch.
It ain’t happening.
History shows us as much.
When boxers have gone into MMA, they’ve gotten pulverized, because they lack the mat skills to compete with the best martial artists in the world.
The same thing is at play here.
Having heavy hands is awesome, and McGregor has some of the heaviest in the world.
But to be able to bob and weave through traffic for 12, three-minute rounds is another animal entirely.
Mayweather would embarrass McGregor, and would likely knock him out pretty early in the proceedings.
I know the money is tough to pass up, but don’t do it Conor.
This would be a blemish on your resume that would be tough to overcome.
It’s not as easy as it looks.
If it were, I’d really be beating the Chicago Bulls when I’m in my front yard, instead of taking the time to write this column. •
