Holyfield open to helping McGregor prepare vs Pacquiao

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: Evander Holyfield attends Premiere Of “One Night: Joshua Vs. Ruiz” at Writers Guild Theater on November 21, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Leon Bennett/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Boxing legend Evander Holyfield said he is willing to give Conor McGregor a hand ahead of a potential crossover showdown with Manny Pacquiao.

McGregor and Pacquiao, who share the same agency in Paradigm Sports Management, have long been rumored for a boxing match.

“If I was asked then I would go out to him and say to him, ‘You know what, do this thing,” Holyfield told SunSport recently.

“The thing is that I’m not a ‘coach’. I can give him good advice, but I’d have someone else hold the hand pads – I don’t know how to hold hand pads! – I came up hitting hands pads.”

The former undisputed heavyweight champion is among the majority who believe Pacquiao will beat McGregor but he’s not totally counting out the Irishman.

“He has reach advantage,” Holyfield pointed out.

“So he has to keep Pacquiao to the side and throw the punches straight, which is going to be difficult. You’re talking about fighting somebody who has been doing boxing their whole life.”

The 32-year-old McGregor is slated for a much-awaited return in The Octagon against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 on Jan. 23 in Abu Dhabi.

Pacquiao, 42, on the other hand, is reportedly eyeing to fight twice this year after being idle in 2020.