Conor McGregor was totally out of his depth against Floyd Mayweather proving that we don’t need these crossover fights

FLOYD MAYWEATHER’S comprehensive beating of Conor McGregor proves that boxing doesn’t need these crossover fights.

Many will say it was a great effort from the Irishman going ten rounds with a legend of the fight game.

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But Mayweather has been retired for two years, gave away 20lbs in weight and is 40 years old which puts McGregor’s loss into perspective.

The fact that he was never even in the fight highlights why boxing doesn’t need a repeat of such a cross-sport spectacle.

The credibility of UFC does not need them either.

I respect any fighter who competes in any code or style as being brave and tough, and UFC has a huge fan base, I’m not knocking it in any way.

But I’m a boxing man, I like my fights straight up Marquess of Queensberry, get in there, shake hands and let’s get it on.

The reality is UFC is very different sport, like rugby union and football. Jonah Lomu up front with Pele? Well I wouldn’t be marking him that’s for sure!

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On Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas it was Mayweather who, against type, would be left with the job of trying to bring some action and entertainment to the bout.

In McGregor’s defence he did start the fight looking like he had put the effort in to learn the basics of boxing, obviously in fantastic condition as expected of the world’s best at UFC.

He looked the part as he had good balance, high hands and decent straight punches but as those of us that have spent a life time in the sport there’s a little bit more to it than that.

Mayweather started cautiously against the much bigger McGregor as any boxer would tell you the most unorthodox opponents are the trickiest to fathom out.

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And it took Mayweather a couple of rounds to get his distance and then as soon as he realised McGregor's level of inexperience he pushed forward to make something of a fight of it.

From the second round on it was obvious the Irishman was out of his depth in a boxing ring, because as almost any sportsperson, athlete or coach with a modicum of brains will tell you can't beat the best in the world with six months in that sport.

It takes years and years of coaching and sweat blood and tears and toiling at your sport to even get a glimmer of glory.

McGregor looked like an actor searching for lines of a play he didn't know, and the fight droned on to a all to awkward beat.

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The stoppage looked like it would come whenever Mayweather thought proper and it did in the tenth.

I'm sure McGregor could have carried on until he was carried out the arena such is the toughness of the man.

But boxing has rules, like when your clearly out of your depth and taking punishment the referee will step in to stop a one-sided affair to protect a persons health.

In my opinion referee Robert Byrd was about six months too late.

Great sportstars are top at their sport because they put in the years of time and gruelling hardship to be the best.

Respect that but lets leave it as each to their own in the future.

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