By Jim Maltzman: UFC star Conor McGregor liked what he saw in the recent heavyweight rematch between WBC champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury last February in Las Vegas, Nevada. The former two-division UFC champion McGregor
Conor, 31, likes the way that Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) took the fight to the KO artist Wilder, and beat him at his own game in getting a 7th round TKO on February 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Going into that fight, a lot of boxing fans picked Deontay (42-1-1, 41 KOs) to win.
Tyson used his size and power game to beat Wilder
Fury, 31, fought the perfect game plan in taking the fight to Wilder and battering him against the ropes. Wilder gave ground easily to Fury and was no match for his power shots.
The increased weight that Fury put really made a difference in the fight. Fury weighed 273 lbs for the fight. This was a 19 pound gain from the 254 he weighed in the first fight with Wilder in 2018.
McGregor: Fury vs. Wilder was my type of fight
“Fury vs. Wilder II was my kind of fight,” McGregor said to Bleacher Report. “A proper fight between two beasts who talk a good game and throw heavy punches, so I was proud to have Proper No. Twelve front and center during that bout as the title brand.
“If you want to take part, you shy away from big thinking—if you want to take over you make calculated decisions, and in this case, the fight was a blockbuster, and Proper was clearly one of the winners that night right next to Tyson,” said McGregor.
Conor gives both Fury and Wilder credit
“Tyson Fury is special. He’s got Irish in his blood. I sent both fighters a bottle of my Proper whiskey and they both deserved a Proper shot or two after that bout. I deeply respect these fighters! What a show,” said McGregor.
Where Fury does credit is the way he trained and followed the game plan that his team came up with. He followed it to the letter to defeat Wilder, and that takes a special fighter. In a lot of cases, top fighters fail to follow the instructions from their trainers, and they end up losing. Fury is a different type. He listens to his coaches and does what they ask him to.
Wilder and Fury gave the fans a good shot, though it did turn out to be a one-sided fight. The two are expected to face each other in July, provided the coronavirus permits it. Wilder already executed his rematch clause in the contract with Fury, and July 18 is the deadline for them to fight.
Naturally, the COVID 19 pandemic could get in the way of that fight, but we’ll see. If it does, then the two will fight as soon as boxing resumes in the future, be it in 2020 or later.
Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and McGregor could be fighting in the near future. Pacquiao signed with the management team that manages McGregor’s career. It’s believed that Conor could be returning to the ring for a fight with Manny.
