August 26th 2017, Vegas baby! Our generation was lucky enough to witness the biggest pop culture event in a long time. It wasn't a sporting event per se, but it was hyped as such. It was, in fact, the highest grossing Combat sport event of all time, an historic billion dollar draw never before seen in Boxing or MMA, and it has changed the landscape of both sports forever. For that we can be glad, I have been an avid spectator, competitor and coach of combat sports for a long time, and after some initial scepticism, found myself really looking forward to the event. "The Money Fight", the circus that was, and still is, just over a week later.
The event itself went exactly the way many had predicted, a convincing victory to Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Many people wished Conor McGregor, the UFC poster boy, the very best but many had their doubts. Realistically a talented amateur cannot compete against a seasoned pro in a straight boxing match. Yet even in defeat, the overall press coverage has been that of generous support to the younger Irishman.
I appreciate first hand (as a Coach for over 15 years) the need to manage expectations in junior competitors and the reasons to elevate someone in defeat. Lessons should be learned in both victory and defeat but they are dished out more harshly in the latter, that is by no means a reason to circumvent them. This is what brings me most concern with regard to the events of August 26th.
The spectacle, and indeed it was a spectacle, saw the sound defeat of a man who had moved too fast into an arena that was not his usual place of work. Some say he acquitted himself most valiantly even in his defeat but the experienced eye can see further. Truthfully, and as difficult it may be to accept, Conor McGregor was never once in control of the fight. He comes from a different sport, he comes from a different skill set and he comes from a combat sport with an entirely different rhythm.
Boxing has been misunderstood by many for many years. Once it was a staple in the British Schooling system, then the perpetuation of the misunderstanding meant it was removed, deemed brutal and thuggish. A sport practised by brutes who knew no better. The sweet science of pugilism completely overlooked, timing, discipline, body mechanics, strategy all to be replaced by a more brutal, some would argue more accessible combat sport. Boxing has been around in some form since late 1800. It has defined and redefined its sweet science over that time and in Floyd Mayweather we can see the greatest execution of it.
Conor moves well and is the dominant fighter in his arena and all credit to him for that but he made a single, yet massive, error in training camp. He did not seek the knowledge of a Boxing Coach. It showed on the night, sorry to be so "matter of fact" about it, but the truth remains. He is a popular character and everyone loves an underdog but we should not side step the truth of his performance. His stance too wide, his punches too weak, his cardio vascular ability too limited.
Yes, people will remember the uppercut which landed squarely on Mayweather's jaw for a long time. Full and flush on a diminished champion, but it didn't put him down, it didn't even slightly faze him. If a boxer had landed it, that would've been it for an aged champion.
Truth is, Boxing is a young man's sport, and Floyd Mayweather is no longer a young man. In the past week we have celebrated the bravery of McGregor and how well he fought on the night. Few have celebrated the veteran, who stepped out of retirement after some 700 days plus of inactivity and never once looked shaky in his performance.
It was by the book and executed to perfection. As a coach, I listened with interest to the pep talks between rounds. John Kavanagh telling Conor he was "looking great" even allowing himself to be talked over by his second. Offering very little in an arena he knew little about. Mayweather, so skilled in his boxing, broke all the rules that made him a champion for over 20 years. Walking forward hands raised, taking punches (more punches that any other fighter had landed on him) because he had nothing to fear from the "greatest striker in UFC". One of the biggest insults that a boxer can do is throw and land a right hand lead, it intimates a dominance that the opponent cannot match, Mayweather scored this successfully almost every time he chose to use it!
If Conor wishes to box again he must seek the advice of someone who understands the art form that is boxing. It is not what many think it is, but maybe some saw it for what it truly can be on August 26th.
