ESPN regular Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on the rumored bout between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul.
McGregor, who hasn’t competed in the UFC since July 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier, made the shock announcement that he is in preliminary talks to fight Paul in an upcoming exhibition boxing match in India.
McGregor has had three years out of the octagon through injury and personal issuesCredit: Getty
“I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India,” the Irishman posted on social media.
“I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the octagon.”
The announcement made ripples across the boxing world, and beyond, it seems, with NFL and NBA expert Stephen A. sharing his thoughts on the matchup.
“I think Logan Paul is going to beat him,” Smith confidently said on ESPN’s ‘First Take.’
“I don’t think that Conor McGregor is a boxer; he’s a striker. So, he’s sitting up there, and he ain’t even throwing his jab. He’s pitter-pattering. You ain’t clipping Logan Paul like that. You’ve got to do more than that.”
Smith also tipped the rumored bout in the American’s favor due to him being ‘the more experienced boxer’ — a somewhat questionable claim given boxing is a fundamental part of MMA and something McGregor has trained in most of his adult life.
“We don’t know yet (which size gloves they’re using), but it doesn’t matter,” Smith went on.
“Unless it’s pillows like 16 or 18 ounces, it ain’t going to work. I just think that Logan Paul is bigger, he’s a much bigger man, he’s a more experienced boxer.”
MMA star McGregor’s last official boxing match was in 2017 against Floyd Mayweather, who ended a two-year retirement to face ‘The Notorious’ who was starring in his pro boxing debut.
The undefeated legend weathered an early storm from the former two-weight UFC champion, registering a 10th-round knockout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Smith thinks Paul is the more ‘experienced boxer’ against McGregorCredit: Getty
Paul’s last appearance inside the ring was against Danis in October 2023Credit: Getty
Paul, meanwhile, has boxed four times in his career, entering the professional boxing world in his 2019 rematch with British YouTube sensation KSI, which he lost.
Undeterred by the defeat, WWE star Paul returned to the ring in 2021 to face Mayweather in an exhibition crossover extravaganza.
‘Money’ Mayweather outboxed Paul over eight, fairly non-eventful rounds that, by rule, had no official winner.
Paul’s most recent outing inside the squared circle came in October 2023, when he beat McGregor’s close friend Dillon Danis by DQ after Danis attempted to use his wrestling skills to take down Paul with an illegal move.
Much has happened since then, with former UFC featherweight and lightweight champ McGregor packing on the pounds.
Smith thinks Conor’s hulking new frame would ultimately be his undoing against Paul, anticipating McGregor’s speed to have all but disappeared amid years of inactivity.
“Those big muscles are going to make you a bit slower, and you’ve got to remember that Conor had quickness, he could catch you quick and clip you,” Smith said.
“That’s not going to be the case in the boxing ring.”