Floyd Mayweather is treating opponent Conor McGregor with respect, says Ashley Theophane
Tuesday 8 August 2017 16:23, UK
Conor McGregor has earned the respect of Floyd Mayweather, says a member of the American superstar's 'Money Team', Ashley Theophane.
Mayweather is currently preparing for his comeback fight against UFC champion McGregor in Las Vegas on August 26, and Theophane has already received updates from his training camp.
The Londoner has based his career in Las Vegas after being signed by Mayweather's promotional company and insists the multi-weight world champion is treating McGregor with the same seriousness as his 49 other opponents.
"I think he would respect him for what he's achieved in the UFC," Theophane told Sky Sports. "He is the biggest name in the UFC, so I would think he would respect him.
He's still training as if he's fighting the best in his sport. He's putting in the work now.
"He has been in camp for the last three or four weeks. I know he is training very hard as if he's fighting anyone else, so he hasn't taken his eye off the ball because he is fighting a UFC guy. He's still training as if he's fighting the best in his sport. He's putting in the work now."
Mayweather has been absent for nearly two years, but Theophane believes the 40-year-old remains the sport's biggest star and will be at the centre of another notable event.
"He's the biggest name in the sport, he carries the sport," said Theophane, who will fight on the undercard. "If he wasn't the biggest name in the sport, he wouldn't be able to come back and do what he's about to do now.
"Floyd has made the best in boxing look like novices, so I don't think the fight will be hard for him. It's just for him to go out there and do what he does. It's all about the event.
"I don't even think it's much about the fight, it's about the build-up, the fight week. Everything is going to be so big and loud and large."
You can hear more from Ashley Theophane on this week's Toe 2 Toe podcast.
