By Miguel Rivera
Hall of Famer Roberto 'Hands of Stone' Duran, 65 years old, has joined the ranks of active and retired boxers who believes a potential fight between Floyd Mayweather and UFC superstar Conor McGregor is a very bad idea.
McGregor, the biggest name in Mixed Martial Arts, has been pushing for a boxing match with Mayweather, who retired from boxing in September 2015.
Mayweather, a former five division world champion with an undefeated record of 49-0, is beyond interested in getting McGregor in a boxing ring.
Duran has checked McGregor out and likely watched some of his recent sparring videos - because Duran is very confident that even at his age he would wipe the floor with McGregor in a boxing match.
"Look, I already saw the guy who's going to fight Mayweather. Even I can beat him. This fighter is a dead man [if he faces Mayweather]. I'm telling you, because I saw him, Mayweather knows what he's choosing because [McGregor] will not be able to hurt him. A real wrestler rips his arms off of him," said Duran to ESPN Deportes.
"It's a disrespect for boxing, for the public and for [Mayweather], but I do not blame him.... if there is money, if they chose the fighter that's fine, but that fighter can not even beat me. I learned about boxing before I could fight, and that should tell you everything."
Another retired former world champion, Ricky Hatton, also believes that Mayweather would do a real number on McGregor is they fight in a straight boxing match.
“Boxing’s gone all daft,” Hatton told the Sports Breakfast. “Every time a boxer has given UFC a go he’s got flattened.
“To be honest with you, I know how hard it is to hit Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya knew how hard it was to hit Mayweather, Canelo Alvarez couldn’t lay a glove on Mayweather. I can’t see Connor McGregor doing it to be honest with you, I think they are putting the sport at risk, I honestly do.”
