Teddy Atlas explains how he would train Conor McGregor for Floyd Mayweather fight

Teddy Atlas has earned the reputation as one of the most knowledgeable minds in boxing. After training with Cus D’Amato at an early age, Atlas pursued a career as a trainer as he trained notable boxers such as Timothy Bradley & Wladimir Klitschko.

With rumors of a potential Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing match taking place in September, Atlas weighed in on how he would train McGregor for a fight with Mayweather.

He explained to ESPN:

“First off, I wouldn’t. He has no chance in a traditional boxing match. His only chance would be with MMA rules, where he could try to bring Floyd to the mat where he could — of course — easily be the victor.

He would need about five years — and I’m being very generous and conservative — of boxing training and experience to even entertain the thought of being competitive with any A-plus-level boxer.

But I will play this imaginary game with you for a couple of minutes because I love ESPN. So if I did train him, at this point I’m not sure what I’d have him do, but I’m sure of what I would not have him do — I wouldn’t have him just attack like the caveman he tries to act like. Being aggressive [although there are many who would believe that is his one and only chance] would not be my advice — he would simply bring on his demise quicker, and you don’t attack a great defensive counter puncher, especially when you are so crude.

I would have [him] try and get Floyd to come forward — teach [McGregor] how to step back and counter, hoping to get Floyd to perhaps be so overconfident that he might be drawn into a trick punch — in other words, a sneak punch.

Also, if you are going to hit someone as smooth as Floyd, it has to be approached like a football team playing against a fast defense: You need misdirection plays — like Shane Mosley did a few years ago [2010] when he faked a jab to Floyd’s body and instead threw a right hand up top — after that I would pray.”