Floyd Mayweather admits he’s ‘slipping’ as Conor McGregor megafight approaches

FLOYD Mayweather has admitted his worst nightmare is true ahead of his upcoming megafight with Conor McGregor.

FLOYD Mayweather has opened up on his realistic chances against UFC champion Conor McGregor, as boxing’s biggest fight in history approaches.

Despite trash-talking his way through the entirety of his four-day media tour with the Irishman, the 49-0 legend has made a jaw-dropping admission barely two weeks from stepping in the ring.

It’s not often fighters show weakness before a bout, but it appears Floyd has finally come to terms with a crushing truth hanging over his head.

Mayweather admitted, somewhat begrudgingly, that his physicality isn’t up to scratch against McGregor’s and confessed his time off from the ring has seriously dented his overall form as a boxer.

“He’s a lot younger,” the 40-year-old told ESPN.

“When you look at myself and Conor McGregor on paper, he’s taller, has a longer reach, he’s a bigger man from top to bottom. He’s a lot younger, so youth is on his side.

“And I’ve been off a couple of years. And I’m in my 40s. So, if you look at everything on paper, it leans toward Conor McGregor.”

Mayweather’s admission holds water. The undefeated legend hasn’t stepped in the ring since taking a win over Andre Berto in 2015. He also hasn’t knocked anyone out since 2011.

Conor has the wood over Floyd ‘on paper’.

“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.”

Floyd admitted something had seriously changed within him since his last fight.

“I used to have a 90 per cent knockout ratio. It’s obvious I slipped somewhere,” he said. “Something has taken a toll on my career.”

But he hasn’t completely thrown in the towel, insisting he could still throw a killer punch when it counted.

“I didn’t say I couldn’t fight,” he explained. “I just said I’m not the same Floyd Mayweather I once was.”

A win for McGregor would be monumental, putting an end to Mayweather’s perfect 49-0 record.

MMA FIGHTER: MCGREGOR FEUD COULD HAVE BEEN A HOAX

Conor McGregor’s embarrassing feud with Paulie Maligannigi could have been a set-up to get one over the American boxer, according to British MMA icon Dan Hardy.

The UFC star needed sparring partners for his August 26 fight with Floyd Mayweather, but their previous spats made the retired Magic Man a strange choice.

The outspoken pair had clashed when the ex-world champ offered McGregor a fight, but he was drafted in to help the Dublin ace prepare for his boxing debut.

But the circus was over in rapid time after McGregor published a photo of Malignaggi laid out at his feet — going against the omerta code of the boxing gym.

And Malignaggi hit back at the MMA master by labelling him a scumbag and dirtbag who squeals when he takes a body-shot.

The photo that started it all.

And Hardy — who will provide commentary for the mega-bout on Sky — fears it is an opportunity lost for what appears to be a publicity stunt.

Hardy said: “It has been an interesting turn of events and I am a little disappointed it turned out the way it did because I really felt bringing Paulie in was going to add something from a tactical standpoint.

“You have to bear in mind that Conor is stepping into the boxing world so it helps to have someone in there who has fought at the highest level.

“What was interesting about Paulie Malignaggi — as a sparring partner — is he is not a guy that has had it easy.

“He is not super-quick or powerful. He won world championships on technique and intelligence.

“I think he was under-utilised and, from what I understand from his interviews in recent days, he was not brought as a source of knowledge or a real sparring partner.

“It sounded like he was brought in to be made an example of.

“Given the fact that a few months ago, before he retired, he said that he would like the chance to fight Conor.”

After naming the former WBA welterweight champ as a training partner, McGregor admitted it was not with the hope of learning from the popular fighter.

The Irishman said: “Paulie talked a lot of s***. He was talking. He’s been brought in to spar and then he’ll answer to what he’s been saying and then we’ll go from there after that.

“But we’re going to have a knock in the gym.

“We’re going to have a knock and he’s going to have to answer to what he’s been saying. Then, maybe, we’ll see after that.”

— with Wally Downe’s Jr, The Sun