SHO's Espinoza: I'm a Big Boy, Not Bothered By McGregor Taunts

Conor McGregor's UFC coach John Kavanagh has warned Floyd Mayweather the Irishman's boxing skills are improving all the time.

The mixed martial arts star is set to face undefeated former five-weight world champion Mayweather in Las Vegas on August 26 under normal boxing rules.

McGregor, 28, has never boxed as an amateur or professional and has roundly been written off by experts who say he has no chance against Mayweather, b ut Kavanagh feels his man is already shaping up well.

Speaking at a press conference in Glasgow, where another of his UFC fighters Gunnar Nelson is set to face Santiago Ponzinibbio this Sunday, Kavanagh said: "He will be very well-prepared.

"We have gone through one training cycle and we had in some good sparing partners, and, as we expected, his skills transcended over. He is not trying to win Wimbledon. It's not that different. His understanding of range, his understanding of how to move around is excellent. It's not completely different.

"There are some differences in this fight; he doesn't have to worry about someone shooting (kicking) on him. It's been a great experience. The first half has gone very well and I am heading out to Vegas for the second half on Monday, and I am expecting him to peak at the right time."

During the Los Angeles press conference at Staples Center, McGregor went off on Showtime Sports head Stephen Espinoza - claiming the network intentionally cut his microphone to prevent him from verbally blasting Mayweather.

Espinoza denies the accusation and he's not taking McGregor's taunts personally.

"No, we definitely did not cut it. I'll chalk that up to sort of the first stop flaws. This thing came together rather quickly and the entire format of this thing is to get the two fighters to interact with the fans and with each other. So there were some sound problems -- the cue when Conor came out, it wasn't ready; Floyd's video never played. We've got some of those details ironed out but certainly we had the conversation with him backstage as well," Espinoza said.

"I'm a big boy - [McGregor's taunts] did take me a little bit by surprise, but it's part of the entertainment value of the McGregor business. He's a grown adult, I'm a grown adult. If that's the way he wants to conduct himself, we as the network or me personally are not gonna change it. It's one of the things that you appreciate Floyd for. Floyd certainly has his flaws like we all do, but there's always been a sense of professionalism in everything he's done. That isn't always the case with some of his opponents."