Bombshell *DROPPED*…
Leading in to Conor McGregor’s UFC 205 title clash with Eddie Alvarez, the talk was focused on making MMA history. Once the Irishman had captured the record-breaking second belt, the talk almost immediately switched to an entirely different sport.
Overnight the target for McGregor’s next fight evolved to Floyd Mayweather. Having already engaged in numerous beefs with the boxing legend, ‘The Notorious’ went on full attack mode. Including jabs about Mayweather’s ex-wife and prison sentence, McGregor made it personal.
Thinking it was all a media stunt, many dismissed this fabled pairing…
Apparently We Spoke Too Soon
After McGregor obtained his boxing license in California, the fight came that bit closer to fruition. Soon after, Mayweather would officially un-retire, and the media storm continued to brew.
Now we have somewhat infallible news indicating the impending nature of Mayweather vs. McGregor.Enter Nevada State Athletic Commission Chief Bob Bennett, with a bombshell very few of us had once expected to hear…
Here We Go…
Wondering if the NSAC, the largest combat sports governing body on the planet, would approve McGregor to make his boxing debut against Mayweather? Wonder no more, as Bennett teold Boxing News Online during an exclusive interview:
“It’s definitely an approvable fight,” he told Boxing News. “This isn’t the first time something like this has happened, it is a bit of an anomaly, it’s unusual because both fighters are phenomenal fighters.
“But back in August of 1957 Floyd Patterson fought Pede Rademacher, Rademacher was making his pro debut, and they fought for the world heavyweight title. Patterson won by KO in the sixth round. So even though this would be Conor’s pro debut as a boxer, there is some precedence, but this would be the first time we see two fighters at this level, one from the MMA world and one from boxing, having a fight.”
Continue below…
Conflict of Interests?
Given the close relationship between the UFC and the NSAC, you’d think maybe there’d be a clash of interests. Where the dollar sign is king, ‘Sin City’ is open to anything. Bennett continued:
“He’s proven that he can fight as a stand-up fighter. I’ve seen some tape of him boxing, I’m sure I’ll get an updated version of his skill-set as a fighter. I certainly think he’s worthy of being approved to fight Floyd Mayweather. His UFC background is critical in approving this fight.”
“One of the critical things you have to take into account; Conor’s a phenomenal athlete,” he continued.
“When you go back, he took up kickboxing at the age of 12. As a youth he became an All-Ireland boxing champion. He goes to the UFC, of course he had several [MMA] fights before that, and while he’s with the UFC he’s 21-3 with 17 of those wins coming via knockout or TKO.
“He’s a stand-up fighter, he’s a southpaw, he hits like a tonne of bricks, he’s got a great jaw, he’s 5’ 9’’ and he’s got a reach of 74 inches. If you take a look at his wins in the UFC, they’re predominantly from striking [punching] and if you take a look at the fact he was able to move from 145[lbs] to 155 to 170, he’s displayed some awesome unarmed combat skills.
