Conor McGregor beware… one of Floyd Mayweather’s sparring partners was 'KO'd so badly, he never returned’

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Declan Taylor25 August 2017

Floyd Mayweather beat up one of his sparring partners so viciously that he quit in the ring and disappeared out of the gym door, never to be seen again.

That is one of the revelations from camp insider Ashley Theophane, the only London representative of Mayweather’s Money Team, who has been watching the undefeated star from close quarters over the past two months.

The man from the Harrow Road, a former British champion, now operates out of the Mayweather Boxing Club, having signed a deal with the American great four years ago.

Theophane’s latest training camp ran concurrently with Mayweather’s, so he had a unique view of how his promoter has prepared for the clash with MMA icon Conor McGregor here in Las Vegas tomorrow.

​Mayweather has suggested that his two years in retirement have taken their toll on him, while there have also been hints that he has not taken his training camp as seriously as usual. But Theophane insists that is not the case and says the 40-year-old has been rolling back the years in the gym — with his sparring partners bearing the brunt of his return to the ring.

“He started a bit early this time, probably about an extra three weeks just to shake off the rust, which he did,” Theophane (right) told Standard Sport.

“The last few weeks I’ve seen him, he looked really good. He has stopped a lot of his sparring partners - a few of them quit in the ring.

“I didn’t spar with him this time because Conor McGregor is a southpaw and I’m orthodox, but I’ve sparred many times with him before.

“I’ve seen him stop sparring partners in previous camps but I have never seen so many quit before.

“One even took such a beating that he quit there and then and stormed straight out of the gym.

“He has been sparring a lot of young guys so he’s getting used to facing hungry, determined fighters. Then when you see him on the bags and stuff, he still looks very good, of course.

“He’s in great shape. At 40 he is in the best shape that any 40-year-old could possibly be in.

“It’s amazing that he had two years out but has come back and looked just as good as ever — and maybe in some ways even better.”

​Theophane’s insight is in keeping with Mayweather’s promise that he will finish McGregor inside the distance, which would represent only his second stoppage win since he beat Ricky Hatton a decade ago.

Mayweather has even revealed that he is set to bet on himself to win, with sources inside the camp suggesting that he is ready to wager $5million on the outcome. Theophane has heard the whispers around the camp too, and is not about to turn down the tip. “I’ve had a big bet on the fight” he said. “I’m that confident.

“I’ve been told that Floyd is saying that he’s going to stop this fight before nine. That’s good enough for me, he’s a man who does what he says.

“I’ve been with Floyd for four years now, I’ve had 10 fights with him. He has always delivered for me.

“He said he was going to get me the world title shot and he got me the world title shot last year.

“I’m grateful for what he has done for me over here. We are like a family and he’s one of the most loyal guys in the game.”

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