A much-hyped bout between UFC star Conor McGregor and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr has become all the more possible in the wake of the news that McGregor has obtained a professional boxer’s license.
ESPN reported on Thursday afternoon (Australian time) that McGregor was granted the license by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), reporting that both executive director Andy Foster and McGregor’s agent Audie Attar have confirmed the news.
» Mayweather vs McGregor – will it ever happen?
While CSAC are committed to ensuring McGregor only faces “appropriately matched up opponents,” the news will only add to the speculation about a potential bout against the undefeated (and now retired) Mayweather.
Mayweather and McGregor have exchanged verbal barbs on a regular basis in recent times. McGregor once boasted he could kill Mayweather in less than 30 seconds, claiming his focus on boxing leaves him vulnerable.
“I don’t look at a man who’s expert in one area as a specialist,” said McGregor.
“I look at him as a rookie in ten other areas. If you can box, what happens if I grab hold of your legs?
“If you put me face-to-face with Floyd Mayweather — pound-for-pound boxing’s best — if I fought Floyd, I would kill him in less than thirty seconds. It would take me less than thirty seconds to wrap around him like a boa constrictor and strangle him.”
Mayweather subsequently brushed off the criticism, claiming McGregor had only made the comments to “get himself some publicity.”
However, the barbs between the two have continued, with Mayweather calling McGregor an “ant” even after his successful outing at UFC 205 in New York.
While McGregor’s new boxing license does appear to increase the likelihood of a matchup against Mayweather, there is another potential roadblock standing in the way of the big-money bout.
McGregor remains contracted to the UFC, meaning the organisation could potentially stand in the way of any boxing bouts the Irishman pursues.
McGregor is currently MMA’s biggest star, having become the first fighter to hold two UFC titles at the one time when he defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, claiming the lightweight belt to go with his featherweight title.
The Irishman was later forced to relinquish the featherweight belt, and UFC boss Dana White has said he won’t fight again until May of next year.
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