TYSON FURY backed Conor McGregor to win his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier ‘in style’ – but warned ‘it’s curtains’ if he loses.
McGregor, who initially knocked out Poirier in 2014, suffered a disastrous return to the octagon in January as he was stopped in the second round.
It has set up a blockbuster trilogy decider on July 10 in Las Vegas, with a win putting the Irishman right back in the top of the pile.
But a consecutive loss for the UFC’s biggest star could see him contemplating his career.
WBC champion Fury tipped McGregor to prevail in the must-win rematch – but fears the repercussion of another setback could be detrimental.
He told UFC legend Michael Bisping on BT Sport: “It’s Conor McGregor’s final roll of the dice.
“If he loses this one it’s curtains isn’t it? I think he wins this one and I think he wins it in style, to be fair.”
Fury, 32, likened his struggles outside of the ring to McGregor’s, having seen his boxing career go off the rails in 2015.
A battle with depression and substance abuse saw him vacate the titles in 2016 before taking a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
By 2018, Fury completed a remarkable comeback to the ring after shedding TEN STONE and last year capped off his inspirational turnaround.
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The unbeaten Brit dethroned Deontay Wilder, 35, in their rematch to win the WBC title.
Fury is fully dedicated to his craft having put his demons behind him, but compared his struggles to McGregor’s.
The Notorious – who has lived up to his name in and out of the cage – has admitted to losing concentration in training camp.
That included drinking just days before his bitter defeat to rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, 32, in 2018.
McGregor, 32, has since insisted the lack of discipline is a thing of the past, but Fury knows the dangers of not living the life.
He said: “With Conor, you never know what he’s been doing. You never know what he’s been up to in training camps and all that.
“From what I hear, he lives like a rock star when he’s like a week away from his fight, so you can’t do that.
“When I’m in a training camp I’m 100 per cent dedicated to the fight.
“I don’t do anything, I go to bed early, wake up early, don’t drink anything but water, I’m 100 per cent dedicated to the job in hand.
“If I’m going out getting smashed in the nights before a fight, then I’m asking to lose.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk