CONOR McGREGOR claims his boxing technique has improved since fighting Floyd Mayweather.
And it appears Manny Pacquiao is set to be the opponent who will discover if that’s the case.
Conor McGregor explained how his boxing technique has improvedCredit: Rex Features
McGregor returned to his first ever boxing coaches at the Crumlin amateur club, with former Olympian Phil SutcliffeCredit: Instagram @thenotoriousmma
The UFC superstar made his ring debut in 2017, losing in ten rounds to all-time great Mayweather.
In the open workout before the fight, McGregor was ridiculed for his unusual warm up in the ring before hitting various bags for 12 rounds at the UFC’s Performance Institute in Las Vegas.
Ahead of the Irishman’s UFC comeback in January, he returned to his first ever boxing coaches at the Crumlin amateur club, with former Olympian Phil Sutcliffe, for the first time ever, cornering the 32-year-old in the octagon.
Before he beat Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds, McGregor was filmed back at the UFC’s PI.
There the southpaw revealed he is sitting down on his punches generating more power, opposed to his more unconventional karate-style strikes displayed three years ago.
McGregor said: “I actually look at the Mayweather [fight], the shots on the bag and the way I was punching and I actually can’t even watch that.
“I shiver when I see the way I was throwing my punches back then. I just wasn’t sitting right on them, just floating through the air.
“Now I’m getting into positions and sitting in. Got to go through everything to learn, to truly learn. Experience is the best teacher of all.”
McGregor is preparing to lace up the gloves as a pro again, having announced he will fight Pacquiao, 41, in the Middle East.
The super-fight is targeted for December or January, with the UFC hoping he can return to the cage next year.
McGregor neglected to bring in a boxing coach before his loss to Mayweather, 43, with striking trainer Owen Roddy instead leading the camp alongside John Kavanagh.
They will now instead work alongside those who first taught McGregor how to box – like was the case earlier this year.
Kavanagh told Boxing Productions TV: “I believe both boxers have agreed fundamentally, behind the scenes there are a lot of terms and conditions and legal teams and managers to work out the fine details but I believe it will happen.
“I think it might be early next year but the wheels are in the motion and it looks like I’ll be coaching boxing again.
“I’ll play a part but it will be mostly Owen and Phil Sutcliffe, Conor’s long-time boxing coach from Crumlin Boxing.
“The bulk of the work will be done with those guys but I always have a hand in there.”
McGregor was beaten by Floyd Mayweather on his boxing debutCredit: Getty – Contributor
Manny Pacquiao is in talks to fight McGregor in the Middle East
McGregor is already training to box PacquiaoCredit: Twitter / @TheNotoriousMMA
Conor McGregor shows off hand speed in shadow boxing as UFC star holidays in France
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
