Did Mayweather Carry McGregor?

[BEER]

I've watched this fight three times now, but even watching it live, it was clear to me that Conor McGregor was carried by Mayweather. I'll explain in light detail as to why it was clear:

1. In the first three rounds, Mayweather threw a total of 28 punches, compared to McGregor's 115. Mayweather landed 12 of those shots (43%). McGregor landed 26 (23%). These are the three rounds that most fans give to McGregor, simply for the lack of activity from Mayweather. However, over the course of the last seven rounds, the numbers are much different. After the first three rounds, Mayweather averaged 33 punches per round, landing a ridiculous 67% of them. For comparison, McGregor threw 45 punches per round, but landed only 26% of them. The numbers are quite clear: Once Mayweather started punching, he hit McGregor at will, while McGregor was missing 3/4 punches, and even less of his power punches. Once Mayweather started punching, the fight wasn't even close.

2. Mayweather did this while fighting uncharacteristically. Mayweather completely ditched his hyper-defensive style. His footwork was largely flat. His shell defense was gone. Even his head movement was lacking in the speed and precision boxing fans are accustomed to. Mayweather often lunged into punches instead of staying square above his hips. McGregor's best chance at winning the fight was always going to be a counter left, and Mayweather handed the opportunities to him in spades. McGregor could not capitalize on Mayweather's uncharacteristically sloppy fighting. I've seen people blame it on Mayweather's age, but these aren't age-related techniques that he was missing. If he was a step slower than we thought he'd be, that would be one thing, but his signature style that brought him 49 consecutive wins was mysteriously gone. The only explanation to him abandoning his style was that he wanted, in his own words, to "give the fans a good fight". It wouldn't be a good fight if Mayweather had gone out and countered McGregor flawlessly and knocking him out in 4 rounds. It was a "good fight" because it made Conor "look good".

3. Mayweather let Conor escape constantly. Mayweather is notoriously good at cutting off the ring against opponents when he's moving forward. Against Conor, he gave up distance and allowed Conor to move laterally in circles, almost as though they were fighting in an octagon instead of a ring. Perhaps a gentleman's agreement? Mayweather's best counters come when he traps an opponent in a corner and counters desperate shots; Against McGregor, he never even attempted to get in McGregor's path to pursue one of his trademark skills.

I don't know if Conor has giant balls, or loves money more than brain cells, and I've certainly been hard on him before and after the fight. Mad respect for even climbing in the ring against one of the greatest of all time; That said, it is clear even on a very basic analysis of the fight that Mayweather didn't take it seriously, and allowed Connor to look "good" to the uninitiated. It was a fun fight, but it wasn't competitive.

I believe that Mayweather abandoned the skills that he was best at to allow McGregor to look competitive. He did it for the fans after promising to make up for the Pacquiao fight. That said: I think Mayweather could have finished the fight much earlier if he treated McGregor like a real boxer.

 

[ColombianFist]

it's obvious Floyd would have ended that way early but he wanted to give irish jabroni a chance to boast his amazing boxing. if it was some other boxer with a thirst for blood that fight would have ended bad for McG.
On top of that a lot of people were saying including mma fighters that irish jabroni held himself against Floyd...
PLEASE, floyd always gives 2-3 rounds to study his opponents and make them tired; if you watch the fight floyd was ALWAYS looking at McG while Sr gave instructions. that fight was carried by floyd until the 6 RD where he started to get serious.

 

[MorrisonJay]

Floyd even said how surprised he was with the way Conor fought. Sugar ray leonard said in the commentary that he was surprised how well Conor was boxing.

Even when you watch the fight and Floyd started throwing, Conor countered really well and using the jab really well.

What changed was Conor gassing half way through the 9th round. Even in the begining of the 9th round, Conor tagged him with some good shots that backed Floyd into the corner.

I think Floyd would have won the fight still, because Floyd is always better the 2nd half of his fights.

But the lack of respect that haters refuse to give Conor is just sad.

This was his first boxing fight under boxing rules. Many boxers will tell you that learning to pace yourself for a 12 round fight can take years. Conor had less than a year to adapt to boxing.

 

[BEER]

Floyd even said how surprised he was with the way Conor fought. Sugar ray leonard said in the commentary that he was surprised how well Conor was boxing.

Even when you watch the fight and Floyd started throwing, Conor countered really well and using the jab really well.

What changed was Conor gassing half way through the 9th round. Even in the begining of the 9th round, Conor tagged him with some good shots that backed Floyd into the corner.

I think Floyd would have won the fight still, because Floyd is always better the 2nd half of his fights.

But the lack of respect that haters refuse to give Conor is just sad.

This was his first boxing fight under boxing rules. Many boxers will tell you that learning to pace yourself for a 12 round fight can take years. Conor had less than a year to adapt to boxing.

Did you read the OP.

I outlined why it was a carry, and you didn't respond to a single point.

 

[BigGing]

Yes. Not to say Connor didn't outperformed, cuz he did, but there are so many points where Floyd is smiling/laughing even when Connor lands. He winked at the commentators in the 3rd or 4th ffs

 

[MorrisonJay]

Floyd pretty much said this was not the case! And watching the fight as a fight, and not looking at ways to make Conor look bad, it is obvious that Conor did cause him problems. Floyd said exactly the same thing!

 

[RandomUser12]

Like I said before, sparring partners don't deserve credit for doing rounds, and that's exactly what this was: a glorified sparring session. Anything Conor had was given to him.

Even in his younger days when he was a lot more aggressive and offensively inclined, Mayweather has never been so defensively irresponsible, which is a testament to just how little respect he had for Conor and his power.

 

[Ancient Warrior]

Most of the people that bought the fight are casual fans that don't know crap from crisco.

You'll never convince them that it was a carry, because they have such limited knowledge and experience. It's like talking to a wall.

The only poster here that completely recanted was "Don't Frye", who claimed he bought into the circus and not only admitted he was completely wrong, but he even thought Mayweather was carrying him as well and could've ended it anytime he wanted.

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

Wtf dude?

http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/did-floyd-carry-conor.3606983/

 

[BEER]

Wtf dude?

What's the question?

 

[BEER]

Floyd pretty much said this was not the case! And watching the fight as a fight, and not looking at ways to make Conor look bad, it is obvious that Conor did cause him problems. Floyd said exactly the same thing!

I don't care what he says. He's humble in victory, that doesn't change what actually happened in the fight.

You didn't refute a single point in the OP.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Yes. No question in my mind.

 

[MorrisonJay]

What do you mean wtf ?

Since the fight, there has been so much bs from haters, it's unreal. No one expected conor to do anything!

Some people saying he could not e en win a round. I have heard people say Conor gassed in round three, which is a load of rubbish. I have heard that Floyd carried him, even though up until the middle of the 9th round Conor held his own, and hit Floyd with plenty of counters, and this was when Floyd started really throwing the punches.

I think it's an insult to Conor, and Floyd that people think he carried him, when he clearly did not.

Floyd came on strong in the middle of the 9th and 10th round, but he is well known for doing that in a lot of fights.

Does not mean he let Conor hit him with shots, counters, and have.

 

[Aphex_twin]

What difference does it make? Conor wasn't gonna win the fight. Boxer win in a boxing match. MMA fighter wins in a MMA match.

 

[MorrisonJay]

I don't care what he says. He's humble in victory, that doesn't change what actually happened in the fight.

You didn't refute a single point in the OP.

You had sugar ray leonard who was commentating on a stream saying how impressed he was with conors boxing, esp considering it was his first 12 round fight.

And he did do well.

 

[Andrusz]

I'm not buying it. I've watched the fight several times now and it's clear to me Mayweather doesn't engage for he first 3 rounds out of respect for how dangerous Conor was. His jab was sharp and Floyd was cautious. He didn't win those rounds because he couldn't.

When round 4 hit he figured Conor was spent enough to pursue him but it didn't immediately result in a KO, Conor was still dangerous but was frustrated and flustered by the rules by then.

I think this "Carrying" narrative is just another boxing spin just to save face. The idea of any fighter besides a Boxer even being remotely competitive is a slap in the face to everything they believe. It's just downright ridiculous and peurile. Just some abstract fantastical conspiracy to protect their shitty sport.

Or the same old usual suspects of Conor haters who obsess over him like fucking weirdos lol. You're the ones who actually make this guy rich, you know that right? Lol

 

[Colin]

Anyone who doesn't see that Floyd definitely fought casually and in effect carried McGregor doesn't understand boxing.

I'm slightly irritated by now hearing people say McGregor landed more punches than Pac etc while ignoring the context of how it actually occurred. Not sure if it is owing to delusion or stupidity.

 

[BEER]

You had sugar ray leonard who was commentating on a stream saying how impressed he was with conors boxing, esp considering it was his first 12 round fight.

And he did do well.

You haven't addressed any of the points in the OP.

You have other commentators who clearly expressed that Mayweather was fighting irregularly.

Address the actual points or go away.

 

[BEER]

I'm not buying it. I've watched the fight several times now and it's clear to me Mayweather doesn't engage for he first 3 rounds out of respect for how dangerous Conor was. His jab was sharp and Floyd was cautious. He didn't win those rounds because he couldn't.

When round 4 hit he figured Conor was spent enough to pursue him but it didn't immediately result in a KO, Conor was still dangerous but was frustrated and flustered by the rules by then.

I think this "Carrying" narrative is just another boxing spin just to save face. The idea of any fighter besides a Boxer even being remotely competitive is a slap in the face to everything they believe. It's just downright ridiculous and peurile. Just some abstract fantastical conspiracy to protect their shitty sport.

Or the same old usual suspects of Conor haters who obsess over him like fucking weirdos lol. You're the ones who actually make this guy rich, you know that right? Lol

First of all, I've never paid for a Conor fight.

Second of all, you didn't address a single point in the OP, like all the other nuthuggers arguing against it. Make a valid point or go away.

 

[MorrisonJay]

I don't care what he says. He's humble in victory, that doesn't change what actually happened in the fight.

You didn't refute a single point in the OP.

My God! It was Connors first boxing match, against the greatest defensive fighter ever, with a ton experience. He did not learn that experience after one fight!

Conor done well for his first fight. I say that as a huge boxing fan, and mma fan. Of course Conor lack of experience I the boxing ring means he will make mistakes on his first fight, will make wrong decisions, but it's his first bloody boxing fight!