McGregor stopped by Conan O’Brien’s show on Thursday night to promote his upcoming bout against Chad Mendes at UFC 189, but before the interview ended, Mayweather’s name came up because he fights around the same weight as the Irish bad boy.
As soon as the subject was broached, McGregor wasted no time saying that he would gladly face Mayweather, but knowing that it would be impossible to get the richest fighter in boxing to convert to MMA, he would go over to his sport instead.
“If you’re asking would I like to fight Floyd Mayweather — I mean, who would not like to dance around the ring for $180 million?” McGregor said.
“I certainly know he would not want to step into my world. The world of pure unarmed combat where there’s no limitations, but I most certainly would step into his world. I would certainly box him if the opportunity arose. Most certainly.”
Everyone wants to fight Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather is still contemplating his next opponent for what he’s said will be the final fight of his illustrious boxing career, but McGregor isn’t giving up hope on making his dreams come true by facing “Money” in the ring.
On the heels of the richest pay-per-view in history with Manny Pacquiao in May, McGregor said a fight with Mayweather could generate another huge number, especially considering the kind of crossover appeal the two athletes would receive from boxing and MMA.
“There’s no real fight in boxing left for Floyd anyways,” McGregor said. “After the Manny fight happened, there’s no more real draws. If you’re looking for a fight that would generate interest, it must be a cross and match up different styles.”
McGregor isn’t crazy enough to discount what Mayweather can do when he’s inside the boxing ring, but the outspoken Irish fighter has no problem pointing out that there are still plenty of weaknesses left to exploit.
The biggest would be Mayweather even attempting mixed martial arts, which McGregor said would end very quickly and very violently.
“I’ve said it before, I don’t think boxing is the style of fighting that can beat Floyd but saying that there are many, many forms of fighting that can beat him,” McGregor said. “If we were to get it on, I would most certainly dismantle him.”
