Floyd Mayweather has made a strange confession ahead of his fight with Conor McGregor – but is it just more mind games?
Speaking to ESPN, Mayweather, who faces McGregor on August 26, said he’s ‘lost a step’ and admitted McGregor could ‘have the edge over him’, especially considering the 11-year age gap.
He also told the interviewer he isn’t what he used to be…
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He said:
He’s a lot younger. When you look at myself and Conor McGregor on paper, he’s taller, has a longer reach, he’s a bigger man from top to bottom.
He’s a lot younger, so youth is on his side, and I’ve been off a couple of years. And I’m in my 40s. So, if you look at everything on paper, it leans toward Conor McGregor.
Mayweather, a former pound-for-pound boxing king and five-division world champion, has come out of retirement for the clash with McGregor, and is considered a heavy favourite to win.
He continued:
I’m older. I’m not the same fighter I was two years ago. I’m not the same fighter I was five years ago. I lost a step.
A fighter like Andre Berto isn’t even supposed to go the distance with Floyd Mayweather, but remember, I was 38.
It’s obvious I’m slipping a little bit to even let a fighter like that go the distance with me. I’m not what I used to be.
He added:
I used to have a 90 percent knockout ratio, it’s obvious I slipped somewhere. Something has taken a toll on my career.
But, he did say he believes an ‘older Mayweather’ still reigns supreme against Conor McGregor, telling ESPN:
I didn’t say I couldn’t fight. I just said I’m not the same Floyd Mayweather I once was.
This can’t be a defensive fight. I have to go to him. I owe the public because of the Pacquiao fight. They weren’t pleased with that. They’re gonna be pleased with this fight here.
Bring it on.
