Floyd Mayweather says he took it easy on Conor McGregor because he was worried about giving the Irishman brain damage.
It took 10 rounds for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to stop Conor McGregor in the boxing ring but, according ‘The Best Ever’, he didn’t force the KO because he was concerned for ‘The Notorious’s’ long term health.
McGregor, 29, took a heavy barrage of unanswered shots against the ropes and looked to be exhausted, which forced veteran referee Robert Byrd to intervene and stop the fight.
Mayweather, who announced his retirement after the bout, said he didn’t want to see McGregor’s career cut short due to potential brain damage.
“He has a career. You know, he still has a career. He’s still young,” Mayweather said on the Hollywood Unblocked podcast, per MMAJunkie. “It could’ve been very damaging. We have to think about these fighters. Even, like, my uncle Roger. Right now, I just got a call just before I came here. He keeps walking off, wandering off. No one can find him. He ends up in a hospital. So, brain damage – it happens. It happens.”
Despite Mayweather’s claims, the undefeated, legendary boxer -- who extended his record to 50-0 -- was throwing everything he had at McGregor in the 10th round and looked to be head hunting.
‘Money’ still insists that, on paper, his younger opponent had the advantage going into the fight, despite never having stepped foot in the boxing ring for a professional fight.
“OK, hold on. It’s a catch 22,” Mayweather said. “If I blew him out in the first round, they would have something to say. If we let the fight go on a little longer than expect, they’re going to have something to say. So it’s like, damned if I do, damned if I don’t. If I let it go the distance, they’re going to say something.
“Once again, we’re praising him. We’re not praising me. We’re praising him. Because I’m 40 years old, retired for two years. He’s 28, he’s active. I’m inactive. He’s taller, he’s bigger. Hey may not be stronger. He has a longer reach. He’s taller. He’s bigger. He’s younger. Youth is on his side. I’m just saying, everything on paper links on him. For me to come and be off, and really only train totally, probably three weeks .. and (I was) out every night partying.”
McGregor, the current UFC lightweight champion, had success early on but faded in the middle rounds. The SBG Ireland product is expected to be out of action for the remainder of the year and it’s unsure whether he’ll return to the boxing ring or not. McGregor will do an exclusive interview with UFC fighter turned analyst Dan Hardy on Sept. 30 in London, England.