BOXER AND MIXED martial artist Heather ‘The Heat’ Hardy says she can’t knock Conor McGregor ahead of his fight with Floyd Mayweather, but that the pair’s August scrap will “never mean anything” within the wider context of either boxing or MMA.
Hardy, who recently swapped ring for octagon in spite of a perfect 20-0 boxing record and will make her sophomore MMA appearance at Bellator 185, relayed the difference between both sports to Ariel Helwani on Monday’s MMA Hour.
Having won her debut in the cage by brutal stoppage, the Bostonian suggested the disparity in stand-up defence is particularly notable.
“I’ve been in the gym with top, top MMA fighters. They don’t know what they’re doing in regards to boxing.
Boxing for MMA, I’m seeing different things than boxing for boxing. It’s not right or wrong, because whatever they’re doing for boxing is working for their career in MMA, but if they were to apply to boxing, I mean, what’s the biggest thing? I have yet to really see an MMA fighter who moves their head – who gets their head out of the way.
“So, when you look at MMA fighters who have all these knockouts with the four-ounce gloves, which again are much, much, smaller and harder than a big padded boxing glove, they’re hitting a guy who’s not moving their head.”
.@HeatherHardyBox is set to return at #Bellator185. Remember this awesome post-@BellatorMMA 180 interview? More: https://t.co/PYohC1Q2pP pic.twitter.com/FrWV41efXZ
— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) August 15, 2017
McGregor, of course, will face one of the finest defenders in boxing history on 26 August, but unlike many fellow exponents of the sweet science, Hardy is excited by the prospect.
Where many have alluded to cross-sport analogies, ‘The Heat’ instead likened the bout to Major League baseball’s all-New York showdown between the Yankees and the Nets, and said while fans can rightly feel enthused, the scrap is ultimately meaningless.
She did, however, question McGregor’s zany open workout, which was so maligned by many onlookers, but suspected to be a ruse by others.
“I ain’t knockin’ him [McGregor]. He’s making $100 million. He did something right now, so I can’t say one thing or the other about him. I can say [his open workout] looks a little silly though.
“I think [the fight with Mayweather] is great. So many guys are like, ‘I refuse to watch, it’s terrible for boxing.’ It’s like an event. It’s like when the Yankees and the Mets play each other. It doesn’t matter. None of the stats count towards their end of the year stats. The win or loss doesn’t count, but all New Yorkers can’t wait to go see the Subway Series.
It’s like an exciting thing for fans but this will never mean anything. To me, this will never mean anything.
Undefeated in both sports, Hardy intends to box again ‘before the year is out’ following her second MMA bout in October, per Michael Woods of NYFights.com.
You can watch her appearance on The MMA Hour below.
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