What did Floyd Mayweather say about a 2023 fight with Conor McGregor?
Floyd Mayweather Jr, retired from professional boxing, revealed his plans for the coming year, which include a second fight with MMA star Conor McGregor.
Floyd Mayweather wants to be ‘Money’ once again. The undefeated retired boxer, who faced MMA icon Conor McGregor in 2017 in a boxing showdown, spoke to the media about his future moves back in September, when he faced Japanese mixed martial artist and YouTuber Mikuru Asakura in an exhibition bout.
“I want to go out there this weekend and have fun. Then I have another exhibition in Dubai in November and me and Conor McGregor in 2023″, he stated.
The Dubai exhibition that he refers to is now upon us with Sunday’s bout against another Youtuber, Oladeji Daniel “Deji” Olatunji. Mayweather, who is looking to keep the exhibition gravy train running for as long as he can, said he prefers an exhibition.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be a real fight or an exhibition. There’s been talk of both. I would prefer an exhibition. I am not into fights where I am going to take any real punishment”, he explained.
The Grand Rapids (Michigan) native also said he’s not worried about facing this kind of opposition, as he feels they are no threat to him: “Guys like Conor McGregor and guys that don’t really hit hard such as YouTubers or UFC guys, I don’t really mind colliding with those kinds of individuals”.
Their 2017 fight saw the second-highest PPV buy rate in history, with Mayweather taking home a reported $280M and McGregor walking away with $130M.
McGregor keeps working on his boxing
Meanwhile, McGregor, who lost to Mayweather Jr. by TKO in round 10, recently said he’s planning to return to boxing.
“Boxing is my first love in combat sports. I had such a great time the last time I was out there,” he said.
“Obviously, my return will be in the octagon for UFC - that story is far from over, in fact, it’s just being written, it is just the beginning”, the Irishman added.
McGregor, who has not competed since breaking his leg at the start of a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021, hopes to return to the UFC with a solid win that would put him closer to another title shot.