While Conor McGregor’s focus right now is solely on his blockbuster boxing match with Floyd Mayweather on August 26th, his long-time coach John Kavanagh has offered up a potential timeline for his return to the Octagon.
“Many of the questions I’ve been receiving over the past week have focused on when Conor will fight in the UFC again,” Kavanagh stated on the 42.ie site. “My expectation is that it will happen this year, although it’s always difficult to predict what Conor is going to do next.
“If he goes in there and knocks out Mayweather in the first round, there will probably be talk of rematches and stuff like that. But the tentative plan, as I see it, is certainly for a fight in the UFC in December. But in the meantime we’re completely focused on boxing and Floyd Mayweather.”
Kavanagh also offered up some insights into McGregor’s training camp as he prepares for not only what will be the biggest fight of his life, but also his first ever professional boxing match.
“Last Friday I received the keys to a new unit which we’ve transformed into a custom boxing gym, which is located near our regular Straight Blast Gym base on the Naas Road. By Monday the place had been cleaned, a competition ring was installed, as well as a bag area.
We’re in the midst of three good weeks of training here in Ireland, before departing for Las Vegas in mid-July. I believe there will be quite a large media world tour squeezed in there as well.”
Kavanagh also addressed the issue of suitable sparring partners for McGregor, though for now no specific names have been mentioned.
“A lot of very experienced and respected boxers have been in touch to offer their help for this training camp, but we’re keeping our cards close to our chest for now at least.
“There will be sparring with guys we’re already familiar with but we will also be bringing in some guys who I think people will be impressed with. But I’ll leave it to Conor to reveal that, should he choose to do so.”
