Locked on Longhorns Podcast: ‘Crossover talk with Locked on Sooners’

Ahead of the Red River Shootout with the Oklahoma, John Williams of Locked on Sooners joined Locked on Longhorns to preview the game.

With Texas-OU week on tap, Locked on Sooners host John Williams joined the Locked on Longhorns Podcast to preview the game. In the first segment Locked on Longhorns host Patrick Conn finds out what is going on with Oklahoma. Spencer Rattler has gotten off to a fast start in his first season, so how much of their woes are to blame on him? What is the biggest issue with Oklahoma as they head into the Red River Shootout?

In segment John asks the questions regarding the Texas Longhorns to find out what is wrong on the Forty Acres. These two teams are similar in that the offense has done enough to win football games so what is going on with the defense? Is it a lack of effort or are the little things biting Chris Ash’s group?

In the final segment Patrick and John discuss the mentality of both teams. Is there a wrong mentality or is it a confidence issue for the two premiere programs in the Big 12 Conference? Going into the game, which team needs this win more? Is it Oklahoma who is 0-2 in conference play? Or is it Texas who can’t afford another loss under Tom Herman who will likely be under fire if he doesn’t compete for the title this year?

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Longhorns Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.

Now Jorge Masvidal calls out Floyd Mayweather

Jorge Masvidal would love to get in the ring with the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr., who recently declared he would fight again in 2020.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues to live free in the heads of MMA fighters.

The retired boxer recently declared on social media that he would return to the ring in 2020 in some kind of collaboration with UFC boss Dana White. That has no doubt perked up the ears of some of the UFC’s biggest stars, including Jorge Masvidal, who obviously smells a boatload of moolah.

“Me versus Mayweather. I want cash money,” Masvidal told TMZ Sports. “I got children, and those children got needs.”

Masvidal, who won a technical decision over Nate Diaz in November, recently called out Canelo Alvarez in an attempt to lure the Mexican superstar into a crossover bout. But with Mayweather seemingly an active fighter again and Alvarez expressing little interest, Masvidal has his eyes set on the undefeated boxer.

“I love to fight and one of my first loves growing up was boxing, and then I fell in love with wrestling and then UFC came about,” Masvidal said. “I was like, ‘Wow, I can do them both of them at the same damn time.’ I fell in love with the UFC, and that’s all I’ve done, the MMA. But I can box my ass off.”

White recently said that that should a collaboration with Mayweather become reality, the fight will most likely take place in the fall.  Whatever form it may take, it is certain to be a financial bonanza. Masvidal’s colleague Conor McGregor had a reported guarantee of $30 million and might’ve taken home as much as $85 million in his boxing match with Mayweather in 2017. Even sniffing a fraction of that would presumably make Masvidal a happy camper.

“Not saying I’m a better boxer than Mayweather but man,” Masvidal said,  “I’m gonna be in there with bad intentions, trying to hurt him. I’m a well-conditioned athlete who’s not going to fade. I’m not going to fade in the eighth of ninth round (as McGregor did). I’m going to be there for the whole night.

“I want to get into the biggest, toughest, roughest fights that I possibly can and make a paycheck for them as well, get compensated for my skills.”

 

Floyd Mayweather reportedly looking to fight twice in 2020

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is looking to fight twice in 2020, according to TMZ Sports. One versus a pro boxer and the other an MMA fighter.

Say it isn’t so.

In a span of 72 hours, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has gone from telling the world that he’s permanently retired to putting up an Instagram post teasing at a possible ring return in 2020.

And now, according to TMZ, Mayweather is currently mulling two fights for 2020, “one against a pro boxer and another against a UFC star.”

Mayweather made a fortune for facing UFC’s Conor McGregor under boxing rules, which obviously is an incentive to pursue another crossover fight with an MMA fighter.

On Thursday, Mayweather was spotted courtside at Staples Center next to Dana White at a L.A. Clippers-Boston Celtics game. Shortly thereafter, Mayweather posted a picture of the two sitting next to each other on Instagram, with the caption, “@danawhite and I working together to bring the world another spectacular event in 2020.

According to TMZ, Mayweather prefers to face a UFC fighter who has standout striking skills, which may rule out a fight with current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, whose strength is grappling.

View this post on Instagram

Coming out of retirement in 2020

A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on

As for facing a boxer, one natural option is Manny Pacquiao, who has been actively campaigning for a rematch against Mayweather since their 2015 box office extravaganza. Pacquiao is coming off a vintage win over Keith Thurman in July. Recently, Pacquiao appeared in an Instagram skit with Chinese billionaire Jack Ma in an attempt to lure Mayweather into a fight

Lance Pugmire of The Athletic informed Pacquiao of Mayweather’s comments. Pacquiao’s response: “Hahahaha really? I don’t know of his plan. But I’m just here still active and willing to fight anybody in the welterweight division.”

TMZ’s source claims that Mayweather is looking to fight in May and September,

Tyson Fury accepts challenge of UFC’s Stipe Miocic: ‘after I get Wilder out of the way?

Tyson Fury, at least in words, has accepted UFC’s Stipe Miocic’s offer for a crossover fight.

Tyson Fury has a lot on his plate these days.

That apparently includes the possibility of a crossover fight with Stipe Miocic, the UFC heavyweight champion who recently stated his desire to fight the “Gypsy King.” Miocic told ESPN that he would rather face Fury than engage in a third fight with former UFC titleholder Daniel Cormier.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Fury, it seems, has taken up Miocic on his offer.

“Stipe says he wants to box me. That would be a good fight, for sure,” Fury told his management company MTK Global.

Fury, of course, has a pretty packed schedule. He is tentatively scheduled to face Wilder in February if the American titleholder defeats Luis Ortiz in their November 23 rematch.

“After I get Wilder out of the way, I’ll fight Stipe in a boxing match if he wants it,” Fury continued. “It would be a big crossover fight like Mayweather and McGregor.”

Fury (29-0-1, 20 knockouts) is no stranger to the crossover fight, having already stepped into the professional wrestling universe against the WWE’s Braun Strowman in October. Most recently, Fury was shown on a video throwing knees and elbows with UFC middleweight champion Darren Till in the gym. That caught Miocic’s attention on Twitter.

Fury, for his part, relishes the idea of taking on the UFC stars.

“I’m open to (fighting Miocic), so he should come and see me,” Fury said. “It would be the same outcome for any of (the UFC fighters): They’ll all get smashed.”