Former super middleweight boxing champion Carl Froch strongly believes Conor McGregor has no reason to fight anymore. However, if the Irishman still wants to compete, Froch has a name in mind, whom he considers the ideal opponent for McGregor.
In the past, Froch had claimed that he could beat McGregor “in the cage” as the Irishman is “too small.” McGregor, on the other hand, was game to fight the former boxer and had even asked Eddie Hearn to make sure this matchup materializes.
Despite the speculation and the back and forth, the fight never came to fruition.
Conor McGregor returned to the octagon after a five-year hiatus to run it back with Max Holloway earlier this month at UFC 329. He wanted to beat “Blessed” again and then fight for the “triple crown,” aka the UFC welterweight title. But his comeback bout ended in just 69 seconds as he injured his right knee and lost by TKO.
Despite back-to-back setbacks due to catastrophic injuries, the Irishman is plotting another return. He’s suffered a torn meniscus and ACL and now expects to come back by the summer of 2027, following recovery and rehabilitation. “The Notorious” has said his next opponent must be Holloway.
But Carl Froch has another name in mind for a now “weak and soft” Conor McGregor.
Carl Froch talks about “finished” Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 return and suggests what the Irishman should do now
While speaking to Betpack, Carl Froch lauded Conor McGregor for his immense contribution to the sport, calling him a “UFC legend.” However, after so many years of inactivity, Froch is now convinced that the former UFC double champ no longer has the same hunger, as “The Notorious” “was finished years ago.” The Brit said:
“I thought he [Conor McGregor] was finished a few years ago. I said on my YouTube channel beforehand that Max Holloway would splatter him. I don’t know mixed martial arts that well, but I follow it a little bit. But what I do understand is combat sports, fitness, age, inactivity, and desire, and Conor McGregor doesn’t have any of those things in his favour anymore. When you finish boxing or any combat sport for a year, you become civilised. You become weak and soft. It’s like Rocky and the eye of the tiger.”
“The Cobra” added:
“The guy who was driven and hungry isn’t the same guy anymore. I’m not giving McGregor stick or slagging him off. He’s a UFC legend. I’ve got so much admiration for him. I think he’s brilliant. What he’s done for the game and what he’s done for himself is unbelievable. I hold him in legendary status in the UFC. But I thought he was going to get done. We didn’t see him get beaten up or outclassed because his knee went. I don’t know whether it was the ACL, PCL, medial ligament or something else. The way the leg twisted looked like the inside of the knee, but I’m no expert.”
Next up, Froch added that McGregor has everything he needs and doesn’t need to compete or come back again, and at UFC 329, the Irishman’s body fell apart.
“I was disappointed for him, and I feel a bit p****d off that I said he’d get splattered beforehand because at least he was having a go. But why is he having a go? Why is he fighting again? I don’t understand it. Don’t put your body in harm’s way and don’t put your head in punching range to take impactful shots to the brain, which could do damage you never walk away from, when you’re already financially secure. We’re prizefighters. We fight to get paid.
Why are you fighting when you’ve already been paid enough to last for the rest of your life? I understand it with Floyd Mayweather if he’s spent all his money, although anybody who can blow hundreds of millions has got to be stupid, in my opinion. It’s not hard to protect your wealth when you’re worth that much, unless you’re spending it on gambling, luxury items and flying private everywhere. But with McGregor, I’ve got bags of admiration and bags of respect. Fair play to him, but what did you think was going to happen? His body fell apart.”
Froch believes Conor McGregor should face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a rematch before hanging up his gloves, and if not, the 38-year-old should stay retired. He added:
“You could look at Mayweather again because it’s a rematch and Mayweather is well past his best, but the first boxing match was so one-sided that it’s not especially interesting. My genuine advice is to retire. If he wants an exhibition on Misfits, fine, but I can’t think of the right opponent off the top of my head. Otherwise, just stay retired. He’s effectively been retired for five years. Concentrate on his bare-knuckle boxing business and everything else he’s doing.”
Recently, Logan Paul revealed that after witnessing Conor McGregor’s UFC 329 comeback disaster, he immediately texted Triple H, asking the WWE to let him fight McGregor. But Froch believes a potential Logan Paul vs. Conor McGregor boxing match is never a good idea due to the massive size difference, and “The Notorious” could end up being sent to the shadow realm by “The Maverick.” He added:
“No. Logan Paul is fit, active through professional wrestling and much bigger. McGregor may put on some weight, but he is still naturally the smaller man. I would tell McGregor to stay well away because he could end up being rendered unconscious. Potentially, if WWE is interested. But again, it would be an exhibition and a gimmick rather than a return to serious elite competition.”
