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Boxing

21st Feb 2017

Private Floyd Mayweather conversation should be music to Conor McGregor’s ears

Exactly what he'd want to hear

Ben Kiely

The never ending fight rumour looks like it will have a happy ending for Conor McGregor and his army of supporters.

It started life as the laughing stock of the combat sports world. The very idea of discussing a crossover bout between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather was enough to make fight snobs scoff into their paperback copy of the Art of War.

‘There’s no way that Conor McGregor is going to fight one of the greatest boxers ever,’ they said. ‘The UFC would never allow that, don’t be ridiculous.’

What people always seem to forget is that the world is ridiculous. CM Punk is a UFC fighter now, Donald Trump’s the president of the United States and the boyband 5ive are inexplicably still active despite the fact that they only have three members remaining (thanks Wikipedia!).

It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that Mayweather and McGregor will duke it out inside the ring for a gazillion dollars. Considering today’s climate, it would seem crazy if it didn’t happen.

McGregor recently announced that the next time he fights, it will be inside a boxing ring, sending a clear message to Mayweather to get ready. Admittedly that was before the UFC revealed that Georges St-Pierre’s contract had been ironed out, leaving the door open for what would be the biggest, most lucrative fight in MMA history.

However, it is doubtful that ‘the Notorious’ would receive a larger wad of cash for taking on arguably the greatest fighter to ever grace an Octagon than he would for a freakshow bout against an athlete who earns so much money, it has become his moniker.

Freddie Roach reckons the MayMac fight will end up being signed, as he explained on The MMA Hour.

“It looks like it’s going to happen. Everything’s pointing in the right direction.”

The famed boxing coach to prize pugilists such as Manny Pacquiao revealed that Mayweather visited his gym a few months ago and delivered a message that should excite Conor McGregor and his fans. Although Mayweather is officially retired, he would be willing to return to the ring for a Red Panty Night.

“About two and a half, three months ago. He came by my gym twice for some reason, I don’t know why he came by my gym, but he was very nice. We had a good conversation, but he told me that he was retired and he wasn’t going to fight again.”

“But he said, ‘if that Conor McGregor comes to the table, that one I will fight.’”

Mayweather ain’t no fool. He knows a payday when he sees one.

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