Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather: Possible Fight?
The rivalry between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather seems to have reached a crescendo. The state of California granted McGregor the boxing license. This has increased the probability of a boxing match between the two fighters. As far as Conor McGregor goes, he has made all the right moves in converting this bout from a dream to a reality.
New Venture or Negotiation Tactic?
Despite the fact that he was stripped of his featherweight title, Conor appeared to be undeterred. Obtaining the boxing license only conveys he has other things in mind. Apparently, he has found boxing to be much more lucrative. Conor McGregor said the size, the reach, and the age are on his side. If he enters the ring against Mayweather, it would be to knock him out. In the past too, Conor has showed interest in fighting Mayweather. But suggested he’d demand $100 million in an appealingly irreverent way.
Who knows? With Conor, it’s all about business. He tweeted, “I love the business, I am the business”. This move can also be seen as a negotiating tactic since Conor demanded a stake in the UFC. He said, “I want the ownership now. If we’re going to keep doing this, I want an equal share”.
Dana White: I Have No Idea What Conor Is Doing
Dana White (UFC President) told Yahoo that he has no idea what McGregor is trying to do with his boxing license. McGregor is a lightweight UFC world champion with a record 21-3 MMA and 9-1 UFC. On the other hand, Mayweather retired with 49-0 as a professional boxer. This might look like a mismatch in the eyes of the boxing commission. Conor can definitely box, but can he match up to the level of Mayweather? That is the main concern. McGregor spoke highly of his boxing potential and said that if he solely focussed on the sport of boxing, there’s no telling what he could do. Dana said, “It’s fun to talk about this (Mayweather) fight, but what commission would let that fight happen?”
Floyd Mayweather: Don’t Compare Conor McGregor To Me
Mayweather doesn’t think of McGregor as an equal in terms of star power or boxing calibre. He said that Conor shouldn’t be compared to him, as it is disrespectful. After McGregor’s historic second round knockout of Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, TMZ (Thirty-Mile Zone) approached Mayweather and took his views on the comparison being made. He stated, “Has he ever made $300 million in one night? Has he ever made $100 million in one night? Has he ever made $70 million in one night?” he added “As far as you wanna say he’s the Floyd Mayweather of UFC, it’s ok to say it. But it’s not true.” It seems Floyd has no desire to fight Conor, although he admitted to spreading a rumour of a possible match between the two. It appears Conor McGregor is the only one ready and charged for the fight.
Another Ali vs Inoki?
McGregor and Mayweather are getting unprecedented attention over this boxing match, and amid all the hype and the intense media coverage, nobody can tell if this match will be commensurate. The fight between American legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and Japanese professional wrestler Antonio Inoki in Tokyo (June 26, 1976) is the perfect example of a failed attempt at trying to give the viewers a visual spectacle. The fight ended in a draw, and it was alleged to be a scripted fight. It was poorly received and the crowd wanted their money back.
Things might get out of hand if the same happens with Floyd and Conor, as viewers would recognize the dramatic work of buffoonery and horseplay. A backlash can be expected if the fight doesn’t materialise the way it’s supposed to. A real fight is all that the audience needs. The barriers that need to be broken in making the Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather fight possible are great in number. Only time can tell what will make this epic bout come to fruition. Perhaps if Mayweather comes out of retirement, it could spur things up a bit.
Image source: Getty/Metro