Mayweather offers McGregor $50 million for boxing match – report

MANILA, Philippines – Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was the highest-paid athlete in sports before retiring last September, has reportedly started to talk numbers with UFC featherweight titleholder Conor McGregor as the two fighters continue to fan the flames of a potential crossover bout. 

According to a report by TMZ, Mayweather offered McGregor a $50 million paycheck for an in-ring showdown on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Meanwhile, Mayweather is expected to earn double of what McGregor will receive to come out of retirement.

In an interview with Showtime’s Steve Farhood a week ago, the 39-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Michigan made a potential showdown with the 27-year-old Irishman sound like a real possibility.

“It’s really not a rumor. The fight may happen. We really don’t know, as of right now. As of right now. But do I think the fight will happen? Absolutely,” Mayweather said. 

However, UFC president Dana White does not see Mayweather and McGregor fighting anytime soon and believes it is unlikely that they ever could agree to terms. 

“Let me put it to you this way, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are in the same sport. It took how long for those two to fight? Now imagine how hard it would be to get [Mayweather and McGregor] to fight. They’re not in the same sport,” White told ESPN.

UFC’s head honcho stressed that Mayweather should call him first if he desires to square off with McGregor. 

“Is this thing going to be MMA or boxing rules? Who’s getting the lion’s share of the money? This and that. It’s impossible,” White said. “But like I’ve said, Floyd, you want to fight Conor, call me.”

In the same TMZ report, Mayweather’s camp is yet to communicate with the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.

On the other hand, McGregor was able to sit down with White and UFC chief executive officer Lorenzo Fertitta in Los Angeles, California yesterday, with both parties going home with smiles on their faces.

McGregor revealed to ESPN that he and his bosses were able to fix their relationship after shockingly pulling out of the UFC 200 pay-per-view card for refusing to fulfill media and promotional obligations.

“I met with Dana and Mr Fertitta. Good conversation like it always is. We have a good relationship,” McGregor stated. “It is what it is. It happens. This is the fight game. Sometimes emotions get into it. But it’s important to recognize that emotions have no place in business. That’s essentially what it was last night. We’ve just set it aside.” 

“There’s no place for emotions in this. We’re doing beautiful things, so let’s continue. Let’s fix it and continue,” McGregor added. – Rappler.com