LOS ANGELES // Former welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr said Wednesday he was “interested” in a fight with Conor McGregor and had already offered the mixed martial arts star $15 million (Dh55m) to climb into the ring with him.
Mayweather, who retired in 2015 with a perfect 49-0 record, told ESPN's First Take programme that a McGregor bout was the only thing that could tempt him to end his exile from the ring.
The 39-year-old American was responding to a question about whether he would consider a rematch with Filipino star Manny Pacquiao following the duo’s much-heralded “Fight of the Century” two years ago.
“Only thing I’m probably interested in is the Conor McGregor fight,” Mayweather said. “I’m a businessman and it makes business sense. I believe in what me and [business adviser] Al Haymon talk about every day. I believe in working smarter, not harder.”
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Mayweather revealed initial talks with McGregor’s representatives had taken place, but stalled.
“We tried to make the Conor McGregor fight,” Mayweather said. “They know what my number is. My number is a guaranteed $100 million. That was my number.
“We are willing to give him $15 million and then we can talk about splitting the percentage – the back end – on the pay-per-view.
“But of course, we’re the ‘A side.’ How can a guy talk about making $20 or $30 million if he has never made $8 or $9 million in a fight?”
Mayweather appeared to suggest that McGregor’s recent comments calling for a fight were insincere.
“You guys keep hearing all these different rumours about different fighters want to face Floyd Mayweather,” he said.
“Everybody keeps talking about Conor McGregor ... Dana White, the UFC – let’s make it happen. Bring him over to the boxing world and I’ll show him what it’s like.”
In November, McGregor challenged Mayweather to a fight under mixed martial arts rules and said he would only face Mayweather in a boxing ring for $100 million.
“Much respect to Floyd. He’s a solid businessman ... as far as real fighting – true, pure unarmed combat – Floyd don’t want none of this,” McGregor said.
“He does not want none of this. He wants it under boxing rules. He wants a boxing match. He doesn’t want a fight.
“Give Floyd a shout, tell him I’m coming. Tell him to run around Showtime offices. I want $100 million to fight him under boxing rules because he’s afraid of a real fight.”
* Agence France-Presse
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