Conor McGregor has started his verbal assault on Floyd Mayweather before they even meet face-to-face at today’s press conference in Los Angeles.
ESPN broke the story yesterday that Mayweather filed a Tax Court petition earlier this month to ask the IRS to give him a reprieve on pay taxes due from his 2015 return until his money-spinning mega-fight with McGregor in Las Vegas on August 26th.
“Although the taxpayer has substantial assets, those assets are restricted and primarily illiquid,” Mayweather’s legal petition reads. “The taxpayer has a significant liquidity event scheduled in about 60 days from which he intends to pay the balance of the 2015 tax liability due and outstanding.”
Speaking on the streets of Hollywood yesterday, McGregor was only too happy to rip into his rival as he gave his first reaction to the news.
“I don’t give a f*** what he did,” McGregor told TMZ Sports. “I don’t give a f***. I don’t care what he done. He should’ve stayed retired. He’s f***ed now.
“That’s the god’s honest truth. He should have paid his taxes and stayed retire. And kept my name out of his f***ing mouth.”
At this stage it’s not known how much Mayweather owes the taxman, but the IRS are believed to have indicated previously that they believe the boxing star has the means to pay what’s he’s due, though it may mean he woudl have to sell property or take out a loan.
Mayweather’s tax issues are almost certainly going to be a talking point for McGregor at today’s press conference in Los Angeles as he looks to get inside his rivals head in the build-up to their boxing match next month.