At a special fan Q&A in Manchester, England last night, Conor McGregor declared that he plans to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr in the boxing ring next, but responding later in the evening, Dana White dismissed the idea.
“I’m going to go to Las Vegas, get my boxing license and they’ll we see where the f*** Floyd’s at,” McGregor told the 5,000 fans who’d paid to hear him speak at the Q&A he was hosting.
“I have my eyes on one thing and that’s Floyd Mayweather. It’s the fight I want. I’ve got the reach. I’ve got the youth. You can’t prepare for a style like me.
“That fight is more than just being explored. There’s a lot of steps, but it’s the fight to make. It’s the fight I want.
“I am enjoying the little games we’re playing the back and forth. Let’s give the fans what they want.
“I believe this is the first billion fight. I think it will happen at the end of this year or the start of next year.
“I believe the next time I step into a combat arena will be through the ropes with 10oz gloves on.”
McGregor then indicated that while he would prefer the UFC to be involved in the deal, he believes the fight will happen regardless, despite the fact he’s currently under contract with the promotion.
“I believe I can (make this fight without the UFC), but I think it’s smoother if we’re all involved,” McGregor said. “We’re all about good business. I’ve done great business with the UFC, with Dana, with everyone. I think it’s smoother if everyone gets together to get involved, but then again, everyone has got to know their place. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. There’s Mayweather Promotions, there’s the UFC, and now there’s the newly formed McGregor Promotions, and we’re all in the mix. Nobody is my boss.”
McGregor also poured cold water on the idea on him taking any of the big MMA fights in the Octagon that he’s been linked with any time soon.
“I believe the next time I step into a combat arena, it will be through the ropes with eight-ounce gloves,” McGregor said. “This is historic. Fighting Khabib what-the-(expletive)-his-name-is, Tony Donkey, Jose, or even (Tyron) Woodley for the third belt, it’s not this. Sometimes you’ve got to be patient with situations, and I feel this is one of them.”
Meanwhile, across the pond at the UFC On FOX 23 post-fight press conference in Denver, Colorado, Dana White warned McGregor that defying the UFC would lead to “an epic fall” and indicated that there’s no chance that a fight with Floyd Mayweather materializes.
“Will it happen?” White told the assembled media. “Here’s what I think the chances are: About the same as me being the backup quarterback for Brady on Sunday.”
However, in a separate interview with Sky Sports, Mayweather sounded confident that the fight will go ahead.
“Most likely the fight between me and Conor McGregor will happen,” McGregor stated. “That’s the only fight that will get me back in the ring. He’s going to do a job on his side and we are going to do a job on my side and hopefully all the fans in the UK come over and support me.”
“I don’t know (when it will be), I need to communicate with my team, the fight hasn’t been made yet, but it is all about entertainment so hopefully we can make it happen.”
