Khabib Nurmagamedov Has Been Guaranteed the Use of Russia’s National Stadium for Any Potential Fight With Floyd Mayweather…
This one continues to rumble but you have to think Floyd Mayweather is just sitting at home looking at his Instagram and laughing. Khabib Nurmgamedov is pushing heavily for a fight as he tries to emulate his nemesis Conor McGregor, and make a massive payday out of the man they all call ‘Money’.
For the past couple of weeks, since beating McGregor, there has been a lot of speculation about Khabib’s future. He threatened to quit the UFC if his teammates were sacked, he’s been linked to a rematch with ‘The Notorious’, and Dana White has said that Tony Ferguson is next in line.
However, it’s clear that he’s very serious about this whole boxing thing. In a post on Instagram, he shared a picture of himself with the General of the Russian Boxing Federation and things just heated up.
Screenshot: Instagram.
Serious
As you can see from the image above, Khabib looks very happy sitting with Umar Kremlev, the general of the Boxing Federation of Russia. Kremlev has promised his countryman his full backing for any potential fight with the greatest boxer of the 21st century. Khabib wrote:
“A meeting with the Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation @umar_kremlev was held today.We discussed the fight with Mayweather.We want the fight to take place in Moscow at the legendary Luzhniki arena.They are sure that we will gather 100 thousand spectators, and also set a world record for the sale of paid broadcasts.And, most importantly, my father will be in the corner; a visa to Moscow is not needed.And so a question for my fans: do you believe in me?Or do you also think that he will knock me out of boxing?”
Floyd Mayweather lands a punch on Conor McGregor. Mandatory Credit: Martin Rogers, USA TODAY Sports.
Not Happening
While it’s absolutely lovely of Kremlev to back his fellow Russian, it’s a total publicity stunt. It’s quite simply not happening and for one good reason. You have to go back 13 years and 15 fights if you want to know the last time Floyd Mayweather fought outside Las Vegas. That was against Sharmba Mitchell in Portland, Oregon in case you were wondering, back in 2005.
Since then Mayweather hasn’t fought outside of Sin City. His whole life is there and any potential fight with anybody will happen there. Why? Because money talks and Mayweather Promotions has the most.
Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports.
Business Plan
Realistically, Khabib is trying to maximise his worth so that he can negotiate lucrative new terms with the UFC. He still hasn’t been paid for beating McGregor – that money is still being held by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but there’s no doubt he’s a bigger draw now than he’s ever been before.
There’s no real appetite to watch him box Mayweather anyway. McGregor was able to seduce the fans into believing he had a puncher’s chance as a slick striker with MMA. It was as much a pantomime as it was an actual boxing match. With all due respect to Khabib – he’s a superb fighter – he doesn’t have that same ability on the microphone to draw in the big crowds.
