As we look back on a wild year in the fight game, things could get even crazier in 2017. Rumours started spreading about a boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather earlier this year, and now they’re back.
After smashing Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight title, McGregor fired himself into orbit in terms of popularity. A far cry from the days of old, more people know about ‘The Notorious’ than current top level boxers.
McGregor vs. Mayweather
Now that McGregor’s notoriety is literally global, talks of a boxing match with Mayweather are again rampant. Add in the fact the Irishman just got licensed to box in California, and you already have a freight train of hype growing.
Could the slick talking Irish striker be setting himself up for a clash with Mayweather? Numerous sites are reporting there are actually loopholes in McGregor’s UFC contract that could allow it.
Mayweather’s Camp Responds
According to Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather promotions CEO, McGregor has no chance of getting this fight. Even if he does, says Ellerbe, he’ll get ‘spanked.’ As per ESPN:
“Conor McGregor can say anything he wants to but he has a boss and his name is [UFC president] Dana White. He is under contract to the UFC and if he wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match he can’t because his bosses wouldn’t allow that to happen,” said Ellerbe.
“The brass [from WME-IMG] who recently purchased the UFC [for $4 billion earlier this year] are very smart people and they would never — and put this in bold caps — let him step into a boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather because everyone knows what the outcome would be. He would get his ass beat from pillar to post.”
“Copying Floyd”
Ellerbe added: “What McGregor is attempting to do is take a page out of Floyd’s book from the marketing and promotional side by using his name. The quickest way to become famous is to align yourself with another famous person, and he’s done a good job of that.
“He has a good little hand game, a superior hand game compared to the UFC fighters he is competing with but fighting Floyd Mayweather is a whole other story. That bullshit you’re throwing over there in UFC would get you killed against Floyd.”
