Conor McGregor praises ‘special’ Tyson Fury for performance in rematch against Deontay Wilder

Fury stopped Alabaman in seventh round in February

Conor McGregor has hailed WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury for his performance against Deontay Wilder in the pair’s rematch in February.

Undefeated Fury handed Wilder his first loss as a professional by achieving a seventh-round TKO 14 months after battling to a draw against the ‘Bronze Bomber’.

Ireland’s McGregor, whose sole professional boxing contest ended in defeat against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, told Bleacher Report he was thoroughly impressed by Fury’s efforts in the second fight against Wilder.

“Tyson Fury is special, he’s got Irish in his blood,” said McGregor. “I sent both fighters a bottle of my Proper whiskey and they both deserved a Proper shot or two after that bout.

“I deeply respect these fighters. What a show [...] Fury vs. Wilder II was my kind of fight.”

McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve whisky was one of the sponsors for the heavyweight title bout.

“A proper fight between two beasts who talk a good game and throw heavy punches, so I was proud to have Proper No. Twelve front and centre during that bout as the title brand,” McGregor said.

Fury and Wilder are set to contest a trilogy fight this summer, though coronavirus has greatly disrupted boxing’s calendar for the coming months, leaving a third bout between the pair under threat.