While attending a nightclub in New York City on Tuesday, two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor addressed talk of a boxing ‘superfight’ with Floyd Mayweather Jr and indicated that he’d be willing to accept the match-up – but only for an astronomical payday.
“Much respect to Floyd,” McGregor told the crowd. “He’s a solid businessman on what he’s been able to do … he’s a f***ing animal at what he’s been able to do.
“But as far as real fighting … as far as true pure unarmed combat … Floyd don’t want none of this. He wants a boxing match, he doesn’t want a fight.
“I want a $100 million cash to fight him under boxing rules … he’s afraid of a real fight.”
Earlier in the week Mayweather had appeared to escalate a war of words between the two when he informed a TMZ reporter that he was being disrespectful by attempting to compare the two fighters.
“If you’re saying he’s the Floyd Mayweather of the MMA, I’m trying to find out: have you ever made $300 million in one night? Have you ever made $100 million in one night? Have you ever made $70 million in one night?”
There’s no doubt that Mayweather is the king of the payday, but with the boxing legend now being retired it’s McGregor who has become the biggest star in combat sports, so if he truly wants that fight then he’s going to have to break the bank for it.
However, even if he did meet McGregor’s demands the elephant in the room is that ‘The Notorious’ is still under contract with the UFC, and so the boxer would also have to agree to terms with WME-IMG as well, which remains a huge stumbling block that it’s difficult to see the parties involved being able to overcome.
