Wednesday 9 August 2017 15:00, UK
Five-weight world champion Floyd Mayweather admits he is not the same fighter he used to be and says Conor McGregor is the favourite to win the pair's upcoming super-fight on August 26.
Mayweather, 40, walked away from boxing in September 2015 but comes out of retirement to face UFC star McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"I'm not the same fighter I was two years ago," Mayweather told ESPN.
"I'm not the same fighter I was five years ago. I lost a step. A fighter like Andre Berto isn't even supposed to go the distance with Floyd Mayweather, but remember, I was 38.
"It's obvious I'm slipping a little bit to even let a fighter like Andre Berto go the distance with me. I'm not what I used to be.
"I used to have a 90 per cent knockout ratio. It's obvious I slipped somewhere. Something has taken a toll on my career."
McGregor, who has never boxed professionally, is 11 years younger than his opponent possessing both a height and reach advantage.
Mayweather admits he "owes the public" after his 2015 mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao and was happy to give McGregor the edge ahead of his latest worldwide event.
"He's a lot younger, so youth is on his side," he said.
"And I've been off a couple of years. And I'm in my 40's. So, if you look at everything on paper, it leans toward Conor McGregor."