Olympic medalist, former boxing champ: Conor McGregor can’t even beat Nate Diaz in boxing match, let alone Floyd Mayweather

It surely seems like many people forgot that it was a few of Nate Diaz’s boxing combinations that ultimately led the way to Conor McGregor tapping out at UFC 196.

With all the buzz of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing match in the works, fans still want to see the fight between the undefeated boxing great and the UFC lightweight champion.

However, not all are believing in the hype of the matchup as Olympic bronze medalist and multiple-time boxing champion Antonio Tarver is one who is not sold on the spectacle being arranged.

Tarver is a recent addition to the Blackzilians team in Florida serving as the new striking coach and was asked on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour for his thoughts on McGregor’s chances in the boxing ring against Mayweather.

“Not a chance in hell,” Tarver said (transcribed by MMA Fighting). “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.”

Tarver added that “The Notorious” has shown conditioning problems in the past and can’t see how he would be able to handle going into the deeper boxing rounds.

“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 Tarver feels that Nate Diaz would pour it on McGregor in the boxing ring, the Olympian didn’t seem to give Diaz the kind of praise that Andre Ward has about the Stockton scrapper’s boxing acumen.

“But like I said, come on, man, when you look at Nate Diaz boxing Conor McGregor, that closes the show for me,” Tarver continued. “That closes it for me. Come on, man. You’re talking about A-fighters versus D-fighters. There’s levels to this sh*t. There’s levels to this. Conor McGregor’s ass could possibly get hurt if he don’t prepare himself correctly. It’s a hurt sport, and Mayweather is not a knockout puncher, but Conor McGregor ain’t getting hit by real professional boxers either.”

What are your thoughts on what Antonio Tarver had to say about the entire situation? Let’s hear it in the comment section!

on 5/2/2017.