I trained under a 10th Dan black belt for years. He taught me how to close the distance in a fight. It is very effective. A lot of lads who've fought McGregor have said that they couldn't cope with his ability to close the distance. Boxers would struggle with this against a good martial artist. A boxer couldnt handle leg kicks either or if he was taken down. Also elbow fighting at close quarters would be a shock to the system of any boxer. My friend fought semi contact kickboxing. Elbows were banned. Then one night he was offered a full contact fight and he said fuck it. First few seconds they clinched then he got an elbow under the chin and he was like what the fuck was that? The fight was over in less than a minute.
100%, MMA is a different world from boxing.
My favourite sport is boxing, i love Celtic and my country, but i'm not of a mind to watch any other football. But boxing i love, will watch anybody, love going to amateur fights, you realise a 120lb 14 year old kid can throw a punch you wouldn't like to be on the end of.
But i realise that its likely the reason i enjoy boxing is its simplicity to watch as a punter, theres a few ways to win fights but its a simple sport, 2 guys and a referee in a ring standing up throwing punches. Tyson said it best...you always go in the ring with a plan then someone hits you on the fucking nose and then you realise that wasn't in your plan.
As you say with McGregor, thats why he did decent v Mayweather, he's really a boxer in a different sport. He has the footwork of a boxer. And as we know, if your footwork is spot on, you'll be in positions you want while the opponent will not get into the positions they want.
If we take tomorrow nights fight, if AJ can't 'close the distance' you speak of and get on the inside, its an easy night for Usyk. The last fight, if you watch it, now AJ can box (he did beat Klitschko), but only when he's dictating. When i said earlier he's not the sharpest tool, it was in boxing terms i meant. He is after all a former world champion and very successful, but he had no clue how to close the space to suit him v USYK. Anytime he did, Usyk landed on him. So he went through the motions in the fight. If i go in, i'll get hurt, so won't engage.
Many commentators said he never tried to KO Usyk buthe knew if he got close it was him that would have been knocked out.
I watched that fight and saw a guy that knew he didn't have the tools or the talent to beat Usyk.
But he's had a long time to prepare a different style. He has fought him so has the knowledge of whats required this time. I suspect that this fight will be 12 rounds of AJ chasing Usyk and Usyk showing AJ that superior footwork will leave him very few chances, one fo which he has to take