Conor McGregor Reacts To Canelo vs. Khan Knockout
Going up in weight is a risky business in the combat sports world, and seldom does it come with a degree of success. For that reason, those that achieve victories or championships particularly above their respective divisions are often revered in their trade. Some names the MMA world that have seen belts in two classes include BJ Penn, Randy Couture and Dan Henderson. Multiple weight boxing champions are a little easier to come by, but it’s still a massive achievement nonetheless.
Modern boxers who dominated multiple divisions include Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, but looking back in time you’ve got legends such as Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker and Ray Leonard, Ray Robinson, Roy Jones Jr and many others who had won belts in up to seven divisions in some cases. Of course boxing is a different sport all together, and the junior/light/super divisions give an easier path to a new weight class for many boxers.
It’s interesting as you look at the weight classes on the left (boxing) and right (UFC, other promotions offer super heavy and also atomweight divsons). You begin to realise that in some case, such as lightweight to welterweight, or welterweight to middleweight, a mixed martial artist would have to jump up 15 pounds in weight. That’s two divisions worth of weight boxing, give or take a few grams.
One boxer who made a brave leap this past weekend was Amir Khan, taking on the feared middleweight punching machine Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in h Mexican’s preferred weight class. The result was a resounding and rather brutal KO finish for Canelo, who put away the natural welterweight with a stunning one punch sleeper in round six.
So where does UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor come in to this? Well, aside from the obvious fact he recently fought 25 pounds above his title division against Nate Diaz at UFC 196, ‘The Notorious’ pay-per-view salesman had a thing or two to say about the Canelo vs. Khan knockout.
You can watch the nasty finish and also see Conor McGregor’s reaction on the next page…
Here is the savage knockout that Canelo Alvarez dished out to Amir Khan during their middleweight title fight on Saturday (May , 2016).
Certainly not one for the squeamish, but Khan’s coach had a lot to say about Canelo after the fight. He took the microphone and made his feelings known about Canelo ducking Gennady Golovkin. Many fans and pundits have accused Alvarez of avoiding the highly risky ‘GGG’ fight, and Khan’s coach made the comparison between his boxer taking the risk this weekend, and pointed out it was Canelo’s turn.
UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor was watching, and also pointed out the similarities in his recent jump in weight:
Respect to Khan.
Most established fighters these days look down the divisions for a fight.
Very few are looking up.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) 8 May 2016
