CONOR McGREGOR could be given the inexperienced gentle to struggle for a world title in BOXING so long as he defeats a ranked WBC contender.
McGregor made his profitable ring debut in 2017, losing to Floyd Mayweather in ten rounds
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The WBC helped sanction the crossover spectacle, even placing up a ‘Cash’ belt for the event.
However with McGregor final yr revealing that he envisions winning a title for real in boxing, he has been handed hope of attaining his audacious purpose.
All of the Irishman has to do is declare a victory over a contender rated within the prime 15 by the WBC, because the sanctioning physique will bear in mind his prior accolades within the UFC.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman instructed SunSport: “I might say, he must face and defeat a ranked fighter, then he could be eligible to be ranked and to compete for a title.
“As a result of, we now have loads of examples of Muay Thai fighters, who flip skilled in worldwide boxing, and they’re eligible to struggle for the title.
“We even have beginner superstars like Vasiliy Lomachenko, they arrive into skilled boxing and struggle for the title and it is confirmed it really works.”
Masterful Ukrainian Lomachenko – who left the amateurs with a 396-1 file – gained the WBO belt in solely his second professional bout.
And the WBC have an extended historical past of Thai Boxing champions switching over to the candy science with nice success, like Samart Payakaroon who reigned in each sports activities.
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With McGregor’s history as the UFC’s top attraction, as well as 19 knockouts in his 22 wins, the southpaw would be equally entitled to a shot at the famous green and gold WBC belt.
Sulaiman said: “If he is to start boxing and proves with victories in boxing then he should certainly be given the opportunity to fight for a world title.
“We, in the WBC, consider the amateur career as one of the criteria for rankings.
“And, for example Muay Thai, in Thailand, we consider that career also when they enter into boxing.
“So, Conor has a mixed martial arts resume, so if he comes into boxing and wins a fight against a ranked fighter, he would be eligible to be ranked.
“This is not a rookie entering the sport, he has a long history of combat sports, so it’s a different scenario of what it used to be in the past.”
McGregor, 32, won early rounds against Mayweather, 43, before tiring as the 50-0 icon took over down the stretch.
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Regardless of defeat, it has not stopped him from calling for a rematch, and even entering talks to face Manny Pacquiao, 42, sooner or later.
For now, although, McGregor is focussing on his octagon return, as he rematches Dustin Poirier, 31, on January 23.
However Sulaiman believes the previous two-weight UFC champion has the instruments needed to succeed in the head of boxing – however has to show it in opposition to a worthy contender first.
He stated: “What we noticed with Mayweather was after all totally different with the occasions, the rounds, it isn’t the identical to struggle 5 rounds to then go 12 rounds.
“However he has skill, he has energy, he has standing as a fighter.
“However, to compete and grow to be a world champion within the WBC, he would wish to struggle in boxing and by advantage be ranked. Then, he could be within the place to problem.
“I do not know what weight class he could be, however positively he would wish to get a decisive win in opposition to a high quality opponent to be thought of to be ranked.”
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