Floyd Mayweather may soon end his retirement. If there is any truth to the Floyd Mayweather fighting Connor McGregor rumors, the hiatus from boxing will be a brief one. Floyd Mayweather’s return to the boxing ring would only take place if the opposition is great and the price is right.
That means Connor McGregor, perhaps even Gennady Golovkin, who goes by the moniker of GGG, could coax Floyd Mayweather to pick the gloves back up. Given the ferocious knockout (reported by ESPN ) of Amir Khan, Canelo Alvarez is another name that Floyd Mayweather would consider fighting again. It would be their second fight, as Mayweather outclassed Alvarez in their only meeting. That fight would be much bigger for a huge payday.
Neither GGG nor Canelo Alvarez could provide the payday or box office appeal for Floyd Mayweather as a fight with Connor McGregor would. Besides, Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez will likely face each other after the victorious Alvarez called out GGG. That leaves Floyd Mayweather to fight Connor McGregor if he were to reverse his decision to retire. A fight with the MMA fighter would add plenty of money to the undefeated boxer’s bank account.
Are Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather actually going to fight? https://t.co/MkvJohrnqD pic.twitter.com/FmMFcn4eD5
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) May 6, 2016
According to the Daily Mail , Mayweather will want at least $100 million to fight Connor McGregor in a pay-per-view fight. McGregor would earn a hefty purse as well, although it would not match what Floyd Mayweather would get. They both are the top draws in their respective sports.
Connor McGregor is one of the UFC’s biggest names. Alongside Ronda Rousey, he is the main draw in mixed martial arts. With his ability to talk a good game while backing it up with his fighting skills, Connor McGregor is the Floyd Mayweather of the UFC.
MMA Vs Boxing. pic.twitter.com/qgl8tKvT5s
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 8, 2016
After some cryptic tweets and his indecision when it comes to fight promotions, McGregor found himself on the outside looking in on the UFC 200 card.
I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 19, 2016
As of now, he has nothing to do but train. Realistically, a fight between him and Floyd Mayweather could take place in September because of this. Not participating in UFC 200 could end up a blessing in disguise for Connor McGregor. A fight with Floyd Mayweather would fetch more money than he would have received for facing Nate Diaz in a rematch of UFC 197.
McGregor has caught the attention of Floyd Mayweather, who admitted to Fight Hype that he started the rumor .
“It’s possible…it was a name that was shot at me…the rumors that y’all been hearing is the rumors that I started…it may not be a rumor…keep y’all fingers crossed…it may be a boxer versus an MMA fighter.”
The rumor was dismissed by UFC President Dana White as a tabloid story.
“It’s not true; it’s just a tabloid story. And as far as I knew, Floyd is retired and he’s been on a world-wide vacation and hasn’t even been thinking of fighting.”
White may be on to something, but at the end of the day, money talks. A cross-promotion of boxing and MMA could be beneficial to everyone involved. Dana White is an astute business mind with a knack for how to promote a product. There are several people who may look at this as a gimmick, but how many gimmicks have the potential to make hundreds of millions of dollars? Floyd Mayweather versus Connor McGregor can.
Dana White puts end to Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor rumors: “It’s just a tabloid story” https://t.co/zFCY9WepAp pic.twitter.com/FKQCfGdzez
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 6, 2016
Everyone who anticipates a fight between Floyd Mayweather and Connor McGregor must proceed with caution. The prospects are exciting, but Mayweather, like Dana White, is a businessman first, second, and third. Mayweather is a fight promoter, and it is his job to promote any idea of a comeback fight. Given that his retirement bout was against an underwhelming Andre Berto, a possible comeback cannot happen with just anyone. Floyd Mayweather needs to throw a real name out there. Connor McGregor is the biggest name out there at this time.
As long as Floyd Mayweather keeps evoking Connor McGregor’s name, more interest will generate. Mayweather wants to be in the mix somehow. This is his way to do it, and it is an excellent strategy.
For all of the fans who may want to see this rumored fight to take place, be mindful that it probably will not. Disregard the fight posters that were generated as a promotional ploy. Until both fighters sign their names on a legally binding contract, expect the Floyd Mayweather versus Connor McGregor talks to be just that: talks. These talks are helping both men.
Floyd Mayweather takes away press coverage on a weekend when Canelo Alvarez knocked out Amir Khan and calls out Gennady Golovkin. He is a big winner here. Connor McGregor is being courted by boxing’s biggest name, retired or not. He wins because it may force the UFC to up the ante on his fight purses. The fans win because the mere prospect of Floyd Mayweather versus Connor McGregor is huge news.
A payday in the sum of $100 million would make the fight a reality.
[Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images]