Analysts have laughed off the idea, but 2008 Beijing Olympic boxing bronze medalist Tony Jeffries believes a fight between UFC star Conor McGregor and retired boxing great Floyd Mayweather is very possible.

The British boxer trained with McGregor in Los Angeles and came away effusive with praise for the Irishman.

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"Conor's boxing skills are great," Jeffries said. "If I never knew him and seen [sic] him box, I would've thought he was a top level pro fighter."

Jeffries said that McGregor's "elusiveness, timing, and defense were his biggest attributes."

The praise from Jeffries contradicted highly respected boxing trainer Freddie Roach, who could be McGregor's trainer if he does fight Mayweather.

"I do know that [McGregor] trained at Wild Card West, which is one of my gyms," said Roach. "He's sparring with a couple of my professional fighters over there, and I hear he's not doing that well."

One of the boxers McGregor sparred with at Roach's gym was former welterweight champion Chris van Heerden, who said the MMA fighter from Dublin was good but not ready.

Van Heerden said of McGregor, "After a good clean-up on skill, he will be in there for a few rounds, but the truth is Floyd will have his way. He is the master of boxing. No one beats Floyd."

Roach said that McGregor has never contacted him about training to fight Mayweather, but he said the legendary boxer did ask him to train the Irishman.

"Mayweather did come by my gym last week and he asked me to take that job if it's offered to me," Roach said. "He told me the fight is going to happen and we're going to make a lot of money."

Earlier this week Mayweather uploaded a mock-up of a promotional poster for the fight, and TMZ Sports reported that the boxer offered McGregor ¥329.2 million ($50 million) for a New Year's Eve fight in Las Vegas.

TagsUFC, Mayweather vs. McGregor, Floyd Mayweather, Conor McGregor, freddie roach, Wild Card West Gym, Tony Jeffries, Chris van Heerden, New Year's Eve fight, MMA