Mayweather will knock out Pacquiao, says UFC star McGregor

MANILA, Philippines – Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstar Conor McGregor is one of many people outside of the boxing world with an opinion to share on the long-awaited encounter between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 (May 3 in PH).

The 26-year-old Irishman made the bold prediction that Mayweather could knock out Pacquiao in their heavily-hyped confrontation, which takes place at the 16,800-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Floyd Mayweather would knock out Manny Pacquiao,” McGregor told Rappler in an interview.

Boxing’s reigning pound-for-pound king last scored a knockout when he defeated Victor Ortiz in September 2011.

After an intentional head butt by Ortiz in the fourth round, Mayweather took advantage of his opponent not having his hands up by connecting a left hook and followed up with a flush right hand to the face.

On the other hand, Pacquiao has not stopped an in-ring counterpart since he routed Miguel Cotto via twelfth-round technical knockout in November 2009.

The Filipino southpaw was seen gunning for a knockout four months ago, dropping previously unbeaten pugilist Chris Algieri six times before cruising to a lopsided decision victory.

McGregor believes that his upcoming bout against featherweight titleholder Jose Aldo at UFC 189 on July 11 (July 12 in PH) would compete with the Pacquiao-Mayweather duel in terms of pay-per-view numbers.

“This is real fighting. This is pure. At the same time, there’s a lot of history between Manny and Floyd, so I am definitely interested into that fight. But [my fight with Aldo] is two men at their prime,” he stressed.

(READ: UFC star Conor McGregor wants to fight in Manila)

For his fearless forecast on the marquee match-up versus Aldo, McGregor is confident that he could score an upset and win by either knockout or submission.

“I would knock Jose out,” he vowed. “If the submission presents itself, I would strangle him and break his limb. But it is the chin that I am hunting.” – Rappler.com