FLOYD MAYWEATHER thinks a fight with UFC star Conor McGregor ‘absolutely’ will happen.
A few weeks ago a report emerged claiming Mayweather, who retired last September, has agreed to a monster fight with the charismatic Irishman.
Last night, Mayweather spoke on the prospect of facing McGregor, who has never boxed as a professional but has generated huge numbers for the UFC.
“It’s really not a rumour. The fight may happen. We really don’t know as of right now, but do I think the fight will happen? Absolutely,” the former pound-for-pound king told Showtime.
McGregor did box as an amateur for a period, and featured in some Novice championships, but soon turned his attention to mixed martial arts.
With an exciting style and a natural flare for self-promotion, the Dubliner has made himself the jewel in the UFC’s crown.
He lost his last fight to Nate Diaz at UFC 196, and since then has been locked in a posturing match with the company over the control of his career.
Mayweather insisted that a fight with McGregor would take place under the Queensbury Rules.
“It has to be a boxing match because most fights that Conor McGregor won inside the Octagon, he was a stand-up guy,” he said.
“I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be a tough fight for me… we don’t really know as of right now, but there’s been a lot of talk, and hopefully we can make the fight happen.
“He is no pushover. One thing about Conor McGregor, he is no pushover. He fell short in his last bout but a true champion can always bounce back so that’s a guy that I can’t overlook.”
MMA Vs Boxing. pic.twitter.com/qgl8tKvT5s
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 8, 2016
McGregor’s contract with the UFC may prevent him from boxing Mayweather, plus he would need to get himself a professional licence.
The southpaw would also enter as a huge underdog, given his inexperience in the ring and Mayweather’s dominance over the past decade or so.
Regardless, a Mayweather-McGregor fight has worldwide appeal and would produce an insane amount of money. The original report on the fight claimed Floyd would pocket $100million and McGregor around $15million.
Mayweather said purses have not been hashed out, nor has a date or venue – leaving one to wonder if anything has actually been agreed upon at this stage – but maintained he would require at least nine figures for his time.
He said: “We haven’t picked a venue, we haven’t talked about money yet. I am going to get $100m. Every time I go out that’s my number. Every time I go out and get inside that squared circle, it’s $100m or better.”
