McGregor or Mayweather? Joe Cortez gives his verdict
Boxing Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez believes Conor McGregor has got better and better as his camp unfolded and that he is in great shape for the big fight against Floyd Mayweather at the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas on Saturday night. Cortez who has overseen more than 170 world title fights involving the likes of Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Oscar De La Hoya, George Foreman and Evander Holyfield, was drafted into the McGregor camp to oversee the Irishman during a series of sparring sessions. Speaking exclusively to Andrew McGahon of TheMacLife.com at the UFC High Performance Institute, the now retired Cortez, was pleasantly surprised at what a great student McGregor has been and how keen he was to learn the rules of boxing to ensure he is 100% ready for the biggest fight in the history of combat sports. When asked about McGregor’s chances against one of the greatest boxers of all time, Cortez stressed that the Irishman’s age, athletic ability and boxing ability gives him a “punchers chance” come Saturday night.
Watch the full exclusive interview below by The Mac Life powered by Betsafe and don’t forget to make Betsafe your betting partner for the big fight, Conor McGregor did.
Cortez on working with McGregor
Working with Conor was a great experience. Here I am breaking in a MMA fighter, here I got to teach him the rules of boxing, and I was pleasantly surprised to see what a great student he is. Because he plays close attention to everything I tell him, everything in detail that I want him to do correct for the fight Saturday night. And so far every session that we’ve had, it’s been getting better, and better, and better. Every session he gets better. he wants to learn more, he keeps asking me questions. I tell him what exactly has got to be done, and I think every things going to be just fine Saturday night. For me it’s a great honour to be chosen as the instructor for this, because this is a mega-fight that has never happened. You got a MMA [fighter] against a boxer. Floyd Mayweather, one of the best in the game today and probably in the history of boxing, he’s one of the best. And here is McGregor who is an outstanding athlete himself. Super champion, super hero in MMA. You’ve never seen that before. So for making history, this is awesome. Sometimes I got to pinch myself because I can’t believe I’m doing this at my stage of my life. Yet, I feel I’m back in the grove again like I was before when I was active as a referee. This is really special.
Joe Cortez
Cortez on McGregor’s chance
Conor has been showing that he has the confidence in himself, he definitely has the skills, as far as MMA is concerned he has the strength, we know he can punch, we know he can punch he has proved it many many times over, he can knock you out with one punch. The interest of the boxing fans will say well Mayweather should win, but you know what I say, anybody that has a punch has a punchers chance, and being that Conor is so athletic and so much younger, I mean he has a lot going for him.
Joe Cortez
