For those of you who are just itching to see Khabib Nurmagomedov box Floyd Mayweather… don’t get too excited.
Last year, former UFC champion Conor McGregor crossed over to the boxing world and made his pro debut against Floyd Mayweather Jr, losing by 10th round TKO in the second-richest fight in combat sports history. One year later, McGregor lost to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in his return to the Octagon, yet here we are with multiple headlines concerning the possibility of Khabib actually boxing Mayweather.
Khabib called out the boxing legend several days ago, prompting Mayweather to respond by saying “Get the checkbook out” on Twitter. Unlike McGregor, Nurmagomedov has no amateur boxing experience that we know of, and he definitely isn’t known for elite striking in MMA competition… yet, Mayweather has once again successfully kept his name in the headlines.
Will Mayweather vs. Khabib actually happen in the boxing ring? UFC president Dana White says to ignore what’s going on.
“Don’t pay attention to it,” White told ESPN on Thursday. “First of all, the Mayweather team has not approached us at all. Khabib is under contract with the UFC; we haven’t talked to anybody from the Mayweather team. Floyd is very good at getting his name back out there when he’s ready to.”
Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) is slated to return to the ring soon, having come out of retirement for the umpteenth time. He reportedly plans to return in an exhibition bout in Japan on New Year’s Eve, then gear up for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao next year.
If a Khabib vs. Mayweather boxing match somehow happens, Nurmagomedov must be made aware that Floyd’s crew are more than willing to start a riot mid-fight, not after the fight.