Conor McGregor is demanding a $100 million payday to box Floyd Mayweather Jr. and has said the retired 49-0 veteran is “afraid of a real fight” as the pair continue their war of words.
TMZ Sports captured footage of The Notorious speaking on a microphone at the 1 Oak nightclub in New York City Tuesday, where he informed the crowd of his financial expectations in order to get into the ring with Money:
TMZ also provided a transcription of McGregor’s message to Mayweather, where he praised his potential inter-sport opponent before disclosing just how much he’ll be chasing in order to make the transition:
Floyd’s not ready for this.
Much respect to Floyd. He’s a solid businessman on what he’s been able to do … he’s a f–king 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.
McGregor is coming off the back of his UFC 205 victory over Eddie Alvarez, becoming the first UFC fighter to hold belts in two different weight classes.
His capture of the lightweight belt means he now has his pick of the litter in terms of fight prospects, and talk of a meeting against boxing great Mayweather is reaching fever pitch:
Speculation of a fight between the pair arose back in May, at which point Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd alleged a 2016 date could be arranged (h/t MMA Fighting’s Jed K. Meshew), although that intel was off.
Earlier in the week, Mayweather told TMZ it was disrespectful for people to compare McGregor with him, referring to the Irishman as an ant, to which The Notorious responded that the boxer should “say it to my face”:
It’s hardly surprising to hear McGregor would seek such an astonishing pay cheque in order to fight Mayweather, arguably the one financial draw in the modern sport industry greater than him.
At 39 years of age, Pretty Boy may not have a lot of time left to re-enter boxing and bring his career record to that magic 50-0 mark, and UFC President Dana White recently backed his fighter when talking to TMZ:
Conor McGregor … if he touches you, you go to sleep. Floyd puts people to sleep too, with his fighting style, not with his hands.
You know how Floyd knocks people out? When they’re not looking. Watch the Victor Ortiz fight.
This kid’s just getting started. This kid’s 28 years old. Floyd can say what he wants about Conor, but even other fighters have to respect him. He’s special. Floyd’s never even come close to doing to other fighters what Conor does.
McGregor’s background as a boxer in Dublin could mean there is some substance behind rumours of a match, and it was a furious four-punch combination that eventually put away Alvarez.
Having already brought in record numbers for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and MMA in general, McGregor will apparently need to see more astronomical numbers in order to step into the ring against Mayweather.
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