Floyd Mayweather has teased the possibility of a rematch with Conor McGregor in the boxing ring next year, claiming that there’s already been discussions about it.
“I want to go out there this weekend and have fun [against Mikuru Asakura],” Mayweather told The Daily Mail about his upcoming exhibition boxing bout in Japan. “Then I have another exhibition in Dubai in November and me and Conor McGregor in 2023.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be an exhibition or a real fight. But there’s been talks of both,” the 45-year-old Mayweather continued. “I would prefer an exhibition. I am not into fights where I am going to take any real punishment.
“So, guys like Conor McGregor and guys that don’t really hit hard such as YouTubers or UFC guys, I don’t really mind colliding with those kinds of individuals but nothing where I am going to put myself in a position where I am going to harm myself or hurt myself.”
It’s not clear how serious the discussions regarding the potential rematch have been, and it could be that Mayweather is simply throwing McGregor’s name out there to grab some headlines ahead of his other forthcoming exhibition bouts.
At this stage McGregor is still getting back to 100% fitness after a long layoff due to the broken leg he suffered against Dustin Poirier back in July of last year, and is not expected to return to the Octagon until sometime next year.
However, it’s well known that he has always been eager to get a second chance to fight Mayweather, having been TKO’d in the 10th round of their first encounter back in 2017, and earlier this year he did indicate that he intended to box again as well as compete in the Octagon when he does finally return to action.
“Boxing is my first love in combat sports. I had such a great time the last time I was out there,” McGregor told Sky Sports in May of this year.
“Obviously, my return will be in the octagon for UFC – that story is far from over, in fact it’s just being written, it is just the beginning.
“But, boxing, for sure I will grace the squared circle again in the future.”
