For almost a year the boxing world and the world of MMA have been discussing the dream bout between boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC fighter Conor McGregor. For months it seemed that all the talk about the super fight was just that, talk.
The media went crazy, the articles discussing the fight, updating us on every detail was seen based more in “click bait” than in any sort of reality, despite a plethora of soundbytes and quotes from the two superstars.
Today, Floyd Mayweather Jr. gave everyone an update on the proposed super-fight by telling ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that “we’re getting very, very close” to a fight.
ESPN is reporting that McGregor arrived in Las Vegas on Monday and noted that Mayweather lives and trains in Las Vegas, connecting the dots to the possibility that the two fighters could be putting the finishing touches on finalizing a deal.
Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Anthony Marnell confirmed to ESPN, via their report, that the commission has been made aware of active negotiations between the two fighters’ camps although they would need to overcome some significant challenges to make the fight happen.
“There is a lot of real stuff going on,” Marnell said, per ESPN. “It still seems like a long shot, but when there is a lot of money involved, people tend to figure it out. There are a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but I’m not sure if we’re going to eat.
“The Nevada Athletic Commission, in my experience, has always been well-briefed by all parties on an event or potential event that may take place in Las Vegas. We are aware of conversations and information that has been disclosed and not disclosed in the media. Whether these conversations will get to a point that a fight happens, I can’t tell you.”
Marnell discussed the financials as one of the biggest potential hurdles for the fight:
“I’m confirming that real people are having real discussions,” Marnell said. “I’m also telling you my opinion as the Nevada Athletic Commission chairman that a lot of things need to get done in order to see something like this come together because there are so many parties that want to get their hands on the pot.
“Maybe it will get figured out, but it’s going to be hard when everyone is declaring they want $100 million. That’s not what I said — that’s what they’ve said. That’s their quotes, not mine. If everyone wants $100 million, that’s a lot of $100 millions to go around.”
There has been a lot of public financial posturing between Mayweather, McGregor and UFC president Dana White. White has stated that he would offer both Mayweather and McGregor $25 million each to make the fight happen. Mayweather responded by telling TMZ “He’s a f—ing comedian!”.
McGregor is willing to do the fight without the involvement of the UFC and applied for a boxing license in the state of California back in December.
White had the following to say about McGregor going the route of not including the UFC:
“It is what it is now,” White told ESPN. “He came out and said, ‘I can do this without them.’ I guarantee you, he can’t do it without us. What I then said was, ‘I’ve always been respectful of Conor, the things he wants to do and everything else. If he wants to go down that road it will be an epic fall.’ Everybody knows exactly what that means.”
The Sun is reporting that a deal has been completed.