MMA

CONOR McGREGOR needs to beat Dustin Poirier with a ‘boxing style KO’ to salvage any chances of fighting Manny Pacquiao.
That is according to former fighter turned-promoter Dmitry Salita, once a sparring partner of Floyd Mayweather’s.

Conor McGregor was beaten by Dustin Poirier Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Manny Pacquiao was in talks to fight Conor McGregor Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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Salita admits the demand for McGregor boxing Pacquiao has been dealt a major blow after the Irishman was knocked out by Poirier.
And it leaves the UFC’s biggest ever star needing to avenge his defeat in emphatic fashion if he has any hope of convincing fans to buy into his ring return.
Salita told SunSport: “I believe that there will be significantly less interest in his boxing return.

“The hook is that he is one of the best in the UFC but that is not the case anymore.
“He would have to come back in an exciting dominating fashion to get same level of interest in a boxing return
“He needs to win the rematch in a dominating way and it would be better if he did with a boxing style KO.
“The intrigue that would sell this particular fight is no longer there as he is not the best in the UFC.”

McGregor, 32, made around £100million for his 2017 boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather, 43, which he lost in ten rounds.

And before marking his UFC comeback against Poirier, 32, he revealed talks were intensifying between himself and Pacquiao, 42.
But after being KO’d for the first time in the UFC, the southpaw multimillionaire is left with questions over his fighting future.
He now faces a rebuilding job, with distractions from outside the UFC needing to be eliminated in order to build back his reputation.
Salita said: “Conor is a great self promoter.
“I believe that he was pushing for the Pacquiao fight and was hoping that his performance in the Poirer rematch would push the public’s interest.
“But the ring and now the octagon is the theatre of the unexpected and as we see anything can happen.
“Such defeats are somewhat unexpected and can cause a dent in a career.
“However, we see that in the UFC culture losses are more tolerable and fighters do come back so lets see how the next stage of Conor’s career plays out.”

Conor McGregor made his UFC return against Dustin Poirier Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Dustin Poirier knocked out Conor McGregor in round two Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Mayweather was quick to bask in McGregor’s defeat and slammed any suggestion of a fight with Pacquiao, who the American beat in 2015.
The Notorious has also seen a mega-money rematch with bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, 32, seemingly go up in smoke too.
But, with a fighter as polarising and popular as McGregor, he is only a win away from bouncing back and climbing to the top again.
Then, talk of the biggest fights in both the boxing ring and UFC octagon can resume.
Salita explained: “I think Conor is a very good fighter and a great self promoter.
“Both are essential elements in making of a superstar. Conor was a superstar in the cage and perhaps he can get to that level again.
“He needs to go back to the drawing board and become elite as a fighter again.
“If he can do that then the mega fights be they hybrid with a boxing superstar or with fellow UFC fighters will happen.”

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JAKE PAUL has started training for his next fight on April 17 – which he claims was meant to be against Conor McGregor.
The YouTuber announced his third fight one week before McGregor rematched Dustin Poirier at UFC 257

Jake Paul training for his next fight

Jake Paul reacting to Conor McGregor’s defeat to Dustin Poirier

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But after the Irishman was stunned and KO’d by Poirier, Paul brutally mocked the UFC superstar.
And in his reaction video online, the internet sensation said he was supposed to be fighting The Notorious.
In a message to the McGregor, he said: “Good morning, I hope you’re up.

“April 17th guys, I’m fighting, it was supposed to be Conor McGregor, but we’ll see what happens. Stay tuned.”
Paul, 2-0 as a professional boxer after his debut in 2020, has tirelessly chased a fight with McGregor, producing several viral callouts.
And he insisted he had £36.5million waiting for the former two-weight UFC champion.
But after Poirier pulled off the upset on Fight Island, Paul – who KO’d ex-NBA player Nate Robinson in November – retracted his offer.

Conor McGregor after being KO’d by Dustin Poirier

He instead told McGregor he will only put up £7,500 in cash for the fight, as he laughed at the UFC 257 result.
In his YouTube upload, Paul went on to say: “Conor McGregor got paid $5million to fight a bum and he got knocked out by the bum.
“Bro, the memes right now are all over Twitter, it’s trending. He got Nate Robinson’d.
“Conor, dude you got paid $5million to fight a bum you should have taken the Jake Paul fight for 50 million.
“Now, I got ten thousand for you, I got $10,000 for you – cold, hard cash, blue hundreds all cash.
“Or, or, I’ll give you a third of a bitcoin, you choose, you choose Conor McGregor.”

Dustin Poirier celebrates beating Conor McGregor Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Jake Paul knocking out Nate Robinson Credit: ZUMA More

MANNY PACQUIAO has turned his attention to fighting Ryan Garcia after Conor McGregor suffered defeat at UFC 257.
McGregor revealed heading into his rematch against Dustin Poirier that talks to fight Pacquiao were intensifying.

Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao are in talks Credit: Instagram @mannypacquiao

Conor McGregor was beaten by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 Credit: Getty Images

So much so that he claimed a contract was being drawn up with the plan to fight this year.
But, that has been all but KO’d after Poirier avenged his 2014 loss and stopped McGregor himself.
According to The Athletic, Pacquiao, 42, is now in preliminary discussions with Ryan Garcia, 22.
Despite the 20-year age gap, WBA welterweight champion PacMan fights a stone above lightweight contender Garcia.

THE BEST MCGREGOR VS POIRIER REACTION

It is shades of Pacquiao’s 2009 fight with Oscar De La Hoya, when he moved up from lightweight to light-middleweight, winning emphatically.
Garcia has never fought above 135lb and appeared on course to agreeing a deal with rival Gervonta Davis, 26.
But in a sudden turn of events, the American – who is promoted by De La Hoya – revealed he had a bigger bout in the pipeline.
Pacquiao had wished McGregor well, tweeting: “Good luck tonight Conor! Let’s make 2021 the best year ever for fight fans.”

But he later congratulated Poirier, 32, for upsetting the odds in Abu Dhabi.
It leaves McGregor questioning his immediate fighting future, with a boxing return against Pacquiao now shelved.
He said: “I always did want to focus on my MMA career, but I’m also open, we’ll see what happens.
“I don’t know what will happen, that Manny fight was happening, it was as good as done.”

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FLOYD MAYWEATHER slammed Conor McGregor after defeat to Dustin Poirier and said ‘nobody wants to see’ him fight Manny Pacquiao. 
Mayweather was basking in the Irishman’s first knockout loss in the UFC, as McGregor was beaten in round two on Fight Island. 

Floyd Mayweather slammed Conor McGregor after UFC 257 Credit: Getty Images – Getty

The boxing legend, who beat the southpaw in 2017, responded to a post which questioned why his brash persona is frowned upon while McGregor’s is celebrated. 
He then claimed their differing receptions has racial undertones, and insisted his rival will never be able to replicate his success. 
Mayweather, 43, wrote on Instagram: “I seen this post and my take on it is that the world knows Con Artist McLoser can steal everything from me and be loved but I’m hated. 
“That just lets you all know that racism still exist. Just know, that bum will never be me or be on my level.

THE BEST MCGREGOR VS POIRIER REACTION

“I’m just built different, my mindset is on another planet, my skills are second to none, I’m a natural born winner and yes I talk a lot of trash, but every time I back it up!
“This is what they hate.
“It’s sad that you can be a poor black kid from the ghetto that has dealt with racism your whole life and work extremely hard to put yourself and your family in a better position, and most of the hate come from my own people.” 
McGregor, 32, was stopped in ten rounds by Mayweather in his ring debut. 

Conor McGregor after defeat to Dustin Poirier Credit: Getty Images

Conor McGregor was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in 2017Credit: Getty Images

The two have been subject to a lucrative rematch ever since, but more recently Manny Pacquiao, 42, has been in talks with McGregor. 
Pacquiao lost to Mayweather in 2015, in what proved to be the richest fight in boxing history. 
And it leaves the American all-time great mocking his ex-opponents for choosing to box each other. 
Mayweather added: “Conor cannot even win in his own sport, but talking about coming back to boxing to fight Pacquiao. 
“Nobody wants to see that, it’s like my leftovers eating leftovers.”

Floyd Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015 Credit: Getty Images

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JAKE PAUL was quick to taunt Conor McGregor after defeat to Dustin Porier – as he withdrew his $50million fight offer.
McGregor was emphatically knocked out on his UFC comeback, as Poirier upset the odds in round two.

Jake Paul reacting to Conor McGregor’s defeat to Dustin Poirier

Conor McGregor was knocked out in round two

And while the result sent shockwaves around the world, YouTuber Paul took the opportunity to mock the UFC star and claimed he would now only offer him $10,000.
He said: “Conor, ay, ay, Conor – I got $10,000 for you cash, cash baby.
“You had $50million!”
Paul has relentlessly pursued a boxing match with the Irishman, sending several viral call outs.

And while on Tyson’s Hotboxin podcast, he questioned why McGregor rematched Dustin Poirier, who he beat in 2014 already.
But legendary heavyweight Iron Mike was quick to tell Paul that the Irishman, a former two-weight UFC champion, is not afraid of the fight.
Paul, 24, said: “I called out Conor McGregor while the whole entire world was watching.
“He’s fighting a guy, Dustin Poirier, who’s 5’9, 155-pounds, who he TKO’d already in one round.

“He’s fighting him again, why?”

THE BEST MCGREGOR VS POIRIER REACTION

Tyson, 54, then interrupts: “You know Conor’s not afraid of you, right?”
Paul replied: “I don’t give a s*** if he’s afraid of me, you don’t have to be afraid of someone to get your ass beat.
“There’s a $50million offer, proof of funds in the bank account waiting for him.”
Tyson uploaded the clip, and captioned the post: “𝙎𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 @TheNotoriousMMA…”
Paul is 2-0 is his boxing career having turned pro in 2020, and recently knocked out retired NBA player Nate Robinson.

Conor McGregor KO’d at UFC 257 Credit: Getty Images – Getty
His next fight is set for April 17, with an opponent yet to be confirmed.
McGregor, 32, lost his boxing debut to Floyd Mayweather, 43, in 2017, but is in talks to return to the ring to face Manny Pacquiao, 42, this year.
But that crossover fight has now taken a massive blow following McGregor’s third UFC loss.

On the week of his return, the southpaw was asked about Paul’s repeated callouts.
McGregor said: “That is what it is. We’ll see what happens. That’s it. He seems like a confused little kid to me, to be honest.
“Now, he’s willing to get in, so we don’t know what’ll happen. It’s not on the radar at the minute with the young lad.
“I know him and Dillon [Danis] have been back and forth, so you never know. But I’m excited to see. Fair play to them.”

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LOGAN PAUL is in store for the ‘worst ass whoopin’ you’ve ever seen’ when he takes on Floyd Mayweather, warned Dana White.
YouTuber Paul, 25, was due to step into the boxing ring with the 50-0 legend on February 20.

Logan Paul is in store for a beating when he takes on Floyd Mayweather, says Dana WhiteCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Fight night looks set to be delayed as the pay-per-view exhibition event needed rescheduling.
But when it does come around, White reckons Paul will – unsurprisingly – take a battering.
The UFC chief told TMZ: “This is gonna be such a one-sided ridiculous ass-whoopin’, it’s not even gonna be funny.
“It’s gonna be bad.

“I’m open and I don’t dislike any one of these kids.
“But if Floyd Mayweather really shows up and goes in and fights this kid, it’s gonna be an ass whoopin’ like nobody has ever seen before.”
Mayweather, 43, has a perfect record against the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya.
His most-recent professional fight was his victory over Conor McGregor in August 2017 before an exhibition win against Tenshin Nasukawa in December 2018.

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Paul, however, lost his only pro bout to rival KSI in November 2019.
And even his six-inch height advantage is not expected to help.
White added: “Logan’s gonna find out what speed is. Speed is power.
“When you get hit with s*** that you don’t see coming and when a guy like Floyd Mayweather starts putting it on you, it’s not even gonna be a fight.
“It’s gonna be ridiculous!
“Take the size difference and all the other things, it’s gonna look like what a grown man can do to his kid.”

The UFC president is confident 50-0 Mayweather would see off the YouTuberCredit: Splash News

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