olumbia, 42-40 in the annual Empire State Bowl rivalry ga

Conor McGregors southpaw straight left won him the UFC championship inside 13 seconds and has become one of the most feared punches in the fight world.Along with his elusive footwork and eye-catching, hands-down style, the Irishmans punching ability has resulted in fight fans dreaming of a duel against boxing great Floyd Mayweather. Even if thats fantasy, McGregor has forged a reputation in the boxing world without ever stepping in a professional ring.But if hes such a good boxer, why did he depart the sport as a teenager? McGregor lost his most recent UFC fight to Nate Diaz so has he profited from a string of grappling-based opponents that lack skills with their hands? Conor McGregor lands a lead-hand uppercut Paschal Collins, Irelands seasoned boxing trainer, remembers an unknown MMA enthusiast who was at home in the boxing gym. Three or four years ago, I always reckoned that he could have gone all the way in boxing for the reason that his work ethic is unbelievable, Collins told Sky Sports. He trains - no, he practises - three times a day.You know when somebody walks into a room and they stand out? He had a confidence but behind the scenes he keeps his head down. I would watch him for an hour and hed practise the same move over and over. He stood out, absolutely.Hes brave, hes got a heart, and hes afraid of nobody. He sparred my nephew Stevie Jr, a cruiserweight, and showed no fear even when he was clipped. Conor was in my gym two weeks ago and I did southpaw pad work with him. He sparred my nephew Stevie Jr, a cruiserweight, and showed no fear even when he was clipped. Paschal Collins Before McGregors growth took him through Collins pro gym, he first learned to wrap his hands in the Crumlin Boxing Gym, an amateur establishment rife with young Irishmen learning about the discipline of the ring.He was like any other novice who we taught the basics to, Crumlin coach Phil Sutcliffe told Sky Sports. He could have been very good if he stayed with boxing.Some kids had more talent than Conor but didnt work as hard and eventually he found them out. He has skills from his time here - his hands up, his chin down, his elbows in. When he got good enough he was able to drop his hands because he could read the punches. Hes a very, very good reader. Conor McGregor hitting pads Hes ambidextrous, we teach that to all our kids, he can box orthodox or southpaw. His straight left changes fights. Its an opportunists punch - hes always had the ability to turn on his back leg to throw his back hand.McGregor took his boxing skills to the cage and exploded onto the UFC scene three years ago, immediately demonstrating an understanding of range that dumbfounded rivals.The same weapon that impressed his first coach Sutcliffe was still getting the job done. Three left-handed uppercuts accounted for Marcus Brimage in McGregors debut, then four more opponents crumpled beneath his left hand in 2014 and 2015. Dublin lightweight Jamie Kavanagh recently tweeted Conor McGregor about their younger days at the Crumlin amateur gym @JamieKavanagh90 A southpaws best weapon is the straight left, McGregors current coach John Kavanagh told Sky Sports last summer. For whatever reason, nobody hits harder than Conor.Contrary to popular belief, it tends to be tall, lanky, rangy fighters who punch the hardest. Conor has a generic X-factor when it comes to punching - even I dont know exactly what that is. Its hard to find a better system than western boxing to teach you how to hit as hard as possible.Super-middleweight world title challenger George Groves has been an impressed onlooker but when quizzed whether McGregor could cut it inside the boxing ring, he noted a crucial different in the Irishmans style. They attack from so far out. Do that in boxing and a skilful boxer would time you. George Groves They have to worry about takedowns so they have to throw punches from a much wider distance, Groves explained to Sky Sports. They can get away with things that we cant in boxing - for example they attack from so far out. Do that in boxing and a skilful boxer would time you.Were used to fighting much closer but if the UFC guys do that, theyre likely to be grabbed. They certainly have power, but in UFC they dont throw combinations. If youre a pure boxer you wont last long inside the cage - but vice versa.A submission defeat to Diaz in March, after tasting some of his own medicine standing toe-to-toe, led to criticism from WBA Super and WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Boxing is the ultimate combat sport, Fury tweeted. Where two proper fighters stand up and fight. Conor McGregor (left) lands a southpaw jab McGregors recent low-profile appearances in California-based boxing gyms may be a strategic attempt to avenge the Diaz loss in an expected rematch, rather than preparation to fight a certain retired kingpin of the ring. His recent defeat was attributed to a lack of boxing finesse by his own striking coach Owen Roddy.He was winning the fight but punched himself out, Roddy told Sky Sports. He was trying to force the finish. He was landing his shots but, because Diaz was able to take them, Conor was throwing higher and higher combinations and got exhausted. The tables turned. Conor McGregors boxing let him down against Nate Diaz Conor was trying to knock him out with every punch and was putting too much behind every shot. If we get him to only put power behind certain shots, he should reserve his energy more. If we stick to popping shots and moving, I think hell put Diaz away.McGregor is the latest in a fabled line of punchers from Ireland and counts former world champions Wayne McCullough and Steve Collins as fans, while Lennox Lewis has tweeted support. He may wear smaller gloves than his boxing predecessors but he is packing a punch in a different way.Also See:Mayweather on McGregor talkFury slams beaten McGregorMcGregor fuels Mayweather rumourFury: McGregor copied meRay Lewis Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. 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Marquise Brown Womens Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover.NEW YORK -- Chris Walker ran for 230 yards and three touchdowns and Cornell snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Columbia, 42-40 in the annual Empire State Bowl rivalry game Saturday.The win assured Cornell (4-5, 2-4 Ivy League) its first winning record on the road since 1994. Cornell returns home for its season finale against Penn.Columbia held a 24-21 lead at halftime, but Dalton Banks found Hayes Nolte from 14 yards out to take the lead and Banks punched over from a yard out to make it 35--27 early in the fourth quarter.dddddddddddd Walker, who scored from 27- and 28-yards out in the first half, capped the Cornell scoring effort with a 71-yard run for the clinching touchdown.Banks finished with 267 yards and two touchdowns on 24-for-37 passing.Alan Watson rushed for 105 yards and Anders Hill threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns for Columbia (2-7, 1-5). ' ' '