Search icon

Boxing

18th Mar 2017

WATCH: Shadow-boxing Conor McGregor led away from Michael Conlan’s corner by security

Some enthusiasm

Mikey Stafford

This is great to watch.

Conor McGregor really wanted Michael Conlan to jab.

Conor McGregor really did not want Michael Conlan to take a step back.

We know this because the two-weight UFC champion told the junior featherweight repeatedly during the early stages of his third round stoppage victory over Tim Ibarra.

McGregor, who we all know is in protracted verbal sparring with Floyd Mayweather over a potential boxing superfight later this year, dipped his toe in the boxing scene on St Patrick’s Day by joining Conlan’s entourage for the ring walk.

The Notorious then hung around Conlan’s corner, ducking, weaving and shadow-boxing, while all the time barking instructions to the 2012 Olympic silver-medallist.

With the Irish tricolour still seemingly balled up in his hand, McGregor is engrossed in the fight. While his compatriots lead Madison Square Garden in a rendition of the Fields of Athenry, McGregor is totally focussed on his friend’s professional bow.

Standing and shifting his weight from foot to foot, McGregor is eventually led away by some very large, very polite security guards and a folding chair is produced.

However, as he continues to roar, “Don’t back down Michael, use the jab”, it appeared unlikely he would stay seated for long.

After the fight he joined Conlan in the ring.