Roach: McGregor is brave, but in over his head

Freddie Roach is one of the greatest trainers in boxing, and knows a lot about MMA and a lot about Floyd Mayweather. Roach prepared Manny Pacquiao for Mayweather, giving Money one of his toughest fights. And Roach has worked with the greatest welterweight in MMA history, Georges St-Pierre, among other MMA fighters.

Roach was asked recently to comment on UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor boxing Floyd Mayweather on August 26. Roach is characteristically positive and polite, even diplomatic, but gets his point across.

“It’s gonna be a difficult transition, obviously,” said the coach. “Because he’s used to fighting in MMA rules and now he’s going to the boxing rules. I think it’s gonna be really uncomfortable for him, and maybe difficult for him. And he’s going against one of the best boxers of all time. Look at his record. You can’t deny that he’s one of the best boxers of all time. I think he’s in over his head. He’ll try hard, though. He looks like he’s very brave. And it looks like he trains hard, at least for this fight. We’ll see what happens.

“It’s a combat sport, it’s what we’re in, and Mayweather knows how to fight – great boxer. I can’t see Mayweather losing. But that’s just my opinion at this point.”

McGregor notoriously brought in former two-weight world boxing Paulie Malignaggi as a sparring partner, and regardless of whose account you believe, was competitive. Malignaggi has worked with Roach before, and the coach stated gently that not too much should be made of the seconds of tape that were released.

“Paulie’s a great kid, but did he really need the money as a sparring partner? It’s very odd, I don’t know,” said Roach. “But one guy’s active, one guy’s not. Paulie looked like he got beat up a little bit in the tapes, the tapes that they do show, but we don’t know if those tapes, they show the other way. So the thing is, what’s out there [McGregor] looked pretty good. He has a strong left hand and he does have power.”

“[Malignaggi got hit] three or four times. I was very surprised.”

Roach was asked to comment on McGregor’s level of technique.

“I wouldn’t say good technique,” he replied. “But maybe … Paulie hasn’t fought in a long, long time. He’s been an announcer, and you know, he did make a comeback fight here or there and so forth. But I don’t think he’s at Mayweather’s level. But maybe he’ll be able to do something in the fight though. Because [McGregor] did fight a legitimate fighter that was a world-class fighter, two-time champion at one time.”

At this point an amused Roach speculated with tongue in cheek that perhaps it was staged. Paulie, did he do it on purpose? Was he paid to do that, you know? (Smiles) Who knows?

“Paulie, did he do it on purpose?” asked a smiing Roach. “Was he paid to do that, you know? Who knows?”

The coach was asked if such things happen.

“No, I don’t think so,” he replied. “At least I hope not, I hope not. But you never know.”

Lastly Roach was asked to comment on the controversial moment where it appeared as if McGregor might have knocked Malignaggi down.

“Pushed him over,” said Roach. “It looked like a knockdown push or whatever. It looked, from the second footage, I couldn’t tell. But I just glanced at it. I just can’t say, you know, I’m not in awe of it.”

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