INQUISITR.COM / Sports

Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather May Never Happen

By Monique Harris
Published on: 03:31 PST, May 25, 2016

Floyd Mayweather Jr. contended in the press that Conor McGregor needs him. McGregor said Mayweather has it all wrong. To remain relevant in the boxing world, Conor says Floyd needs him. Whoever is correct, many believe the match between Mayweather and McGregor will never happen.

“It was him that leaked the rumor,” McGregor said of Mayweather.

“He gets $100 million; I get $7 million? That’s a pay cut to me. I don’t take pay cuts. … He’s talking $100 million; I’m also talking $100 million. I’m 27 years of age and I’m just about halfway through a $100 million contract. He needs me, I don’t need him. … He fights someone else in the boxing realm, all of a sudden the pay goes from $100 million to $15 million. He needs me. If he wants to talk, we can talk, but it’s me who is in control here.”

Mayweather, who is in retirement, is said to be desperate for attention. He floated the idea of the match last month. He has always been interested in mixed martial arts and wants to add pound-for-pound fighter to his repertoire. McGregor who is just off a submission loss to Nate Diaz and UFC 200 debacle played along.

Critics say this is just a promotional ploy to keep Mayweather’s name in the mainstream media. It has generated a debate among boxing and MMA fans. UFC President Dana White said throughout the promotion of UFC 198 a couple of weeks ago that Mayweather versus McGregor will not occur because McGregor’s contractual commitment to UFC.

White is the god of the UFC world, and her word rules. Beyond that, White won’t allow it. Many believe Mayweather is too smart for such a risk. He has been a masterful matchmaker through his 19 year pro boxing career. He is one win away from surpassing Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record. Mayweather wouldn’t risk his 50th win against McGregor who never participated in a professional boxing match.

Mayweather would be a heavy favorite over McGregor who could embarrass Mayweather in an MMA match. There’s a chance, though, that Mayweather could get clipped against underdog McGregor which would ruin his legacy, reported NewJersey.com.

If Mayweather dominated McGregor, Floyd wouldn’t get the credit deserved of a 50th fight. McGregor is an elite mixed martial artist and has better boxing skills than most in his sport but he would have difficulty defeating any of the top 10 welterweights in boxing. It’s highly unlikely he would defeat Mayweather.

If Mayweather comes out of retirement, for the second time since 2009, it would be for a fight against Danny Garcia or a rematch against Manny Pacquiao. It would be a more lucrative match with Pacquiao than for facing McGregor. He could make more than $50 million for fighting Garcia.

Fox Sports’ The Herd podcast sports media personality Colin Cowherd said sources have confirmed that McGregor vs. Mayweather is happening September in Las Vegas, reported Forbes Magazine on Tuesday.

“News, I believe, is going to break here in about two weeks,” Cowherd said. “I have already booked two rooms, September 17th and 18th in Las Vegas. My intel is Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather is going to happen.”

However, this should be taken with a grain of salt but Cowherd laid out a blueprint on how the fight could come together.

“I think this is the most profitable fight for CBS and Mayweather… CBS has been working with Mayweather for years. That’s why his fights are on Showtime, because CBS owns Showtime. So (CBS President) Les Moonves and the CBS peeps have decided, ‘let’s talk to the Fox, UFC peeps,’ and you’ve got Fox and CBS, you’ve got UFC, you’ve got boxing, you’ve got Floyd, you’ve got Conor.”

However, in an interview with ESPN, McGregor said that fighting Mayweather is a rumor. In reality a match between he and Mayweather would result in a pay cut for him and he doesn’t do pay cuts.

As noted, the fight is a rumor that may manifest.

[Photo by Isaac Brekken/AP Images]

Share this article: Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather May Never Happen
Floyd Mayweather Conor McGregor
More from Inquisitr