Logan Paul has been backed to do better against Floyd Mayweather than UFC star Conor McGregor did against the boxing icon.
YouTuber Paul will meet Mayweather in the ring on February 20 in an exhibition fight.
Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Mayweight, the legendary five-weight world champion, achieved his 50th career win when he knocked out McGregor in Las Vegas back in 2017.
The Notorious is a two-weight UFC champion and very experienced fighter but struggled to land many damaging shots on his opponent.
Paul has just one professional fight, which he lost to fellow YouTuber KSI, and his experience of combat sports is limited.
But Victor Ortiz, who was beaten by Mayweather in 2011, claims Paul will give the boxing great more problems than McGregor did.
Sportsfile – Subscription
“Conor couldn’t do nothing,” Ortiz told MMAFighting.
“I don’t mean to speak bad. Conor’s a heck of a UFC fighter in the octagon, but he has no business in a ring, as opposed to someone like Logan – Logan learned in a ring.
“So his stuff is all standup. Everything about Logan is boxing, angles, moving, so it’s two different worlds.
“I couldn’t tell you what someone like Logan or myself could do in an octagon, but stick to what you know. And Logan, he knows boxing right now.”
Ortiz has been helping the 25-year-old prepare for the lucrative exhibition bout in 2021.
“He’s a dear friend, and I believe in him,” he added. “I’m telling you, it’s going to be an interesting fight.
“I’ve talked to him about Floyd a few times. I give him the simple things: ‘Floyd is Floyd, but you’re unstoppable. You’re on another level.’
“I strongly believe Floyd will have trouble. Logan can box, and he has power, reach speed, and he can move now.
“I can absolutely see 110 per cent why they would be upset. I can agree to a certain extent. But honestly, realistically, today’s society is about numbers.
“You can be one heck of a boxer, but if you’re not putting butts in seats, you ain’t getting paid.”
