It is getting closer and closer.
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It is getting closer and closer.
Floyd Mayweather issues Conor McGregor plea and confirms intention to end retirement
Floyd Mayweather Jr will return to competitive boxing regardless of whether Conor McGregor agrees terms over a clash later in the year, the unbeaten American has confirmed. Previously, the 40-year-old had suggested any return to the ring would only be against the Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar but now is open to a clash with any current boxer or mixed martial arts fighter.
Mayweather has not fought since beating Andre Berto in September 2015, a victory which took his record to 49-0 – drawing him level with Rocky Marciano. Manny Pacquiao has attempted to lure him out of retirement once again but those offers have been resisted, with Mayweather instead focusing on building his reputation as a promoter.
McGregor and Mayweather have exchanged threats on social media regarding a cross-code meeting, but with negotiations underway the former has claimed the Irishman's financial demands are holding up the deal. The ex-five-division world champion says the UFC star must accept be is the "B side" in the bout and has been urged to lower his expectations.
"What I'm doing is trying to see if he's really real," said Mayweather, speaking in an exclusive interview with BT Sport's Rio Ferdinand. "I'm at home enjoying the retired life. He keeps barking so I'm gonna pull your card and see if he's really real. You keep barking I'm gonna see if you gonna bite, so let's make it happen. Conor McGregor is not a boss cause if Conor McGregor was his own boss the fight would be made.
"We are waiting on you Conor, what's going on? We're waiting to fight – you talking about you want to fight. Let's see if you're really real. Let's make the fight happen. When I fought Oscar De Lay Hoya, when I was the B side and he was the A side I didn't complain. I said I know where I'm trying to go to, I know where I'm trying to get to, give me the money and let's make it happen. Before you can come the A side you must be the B side first.
"Financially wise I had to be the B side for that fight, but then after that fight, I earned a spot. So if Conor McGregor wants the A Spot, don't cry and complain about the money. Be the B fighter, go out there and do what you have to do and you possibly can get a victory you can be the A side."
Expanding on his decision to end his self-imposed hiatus from the sport, Mayweather added: "It will be against a fighter and that's what important. Giving the fans excitement. I want to go out there and compete again. No matter if it's a boxing fighter, or an MMA fighter. A fighter's, a fighter when it's all said and done."
Though Mayweather never fought any of his 49 fights in the United Kingdom, he has been appearing this side of the Atlantic to promote Gervonta Davis' first world title defence against Liam Walsh. Alongside his promotional duties, he has also appeared at several fan events on The Undefeated Tour which has taken in venues across the country.
Floyd Mayweather issues Conor McGregor plea and confirms intention to end retirement
Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor have reportedly settled on June 10 as the date for their proposed super-fight.
Flo Combat say the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is the likely location for the bout.
The Nevada venue has reportedly been put on hold for June 10, suggesting it is being reserved while a deal for the two fighters to meet on that date is thrashed out.
Mayweather is used to competing in Vegas, with his last 12 fights all having taken place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Five of McGregor's last seven UFC bouts have also taken place in Vegas.
Mayweather last week officially confirmed he is coming out of retirement to face McGregor after more than a year of speculation surrounding a potential meeting.
He mentioned June as a potential month for the fight to take place as he admitted the showdown 'needs to happen'.
“When I faced Arturo Gatti, I went to his turf,” Mayweather told FightHype. “He was the A side, I was the B side. I beat him, I didn’t cry, I didn’t complain. When I faced Oscar De La Hoya, he was the A side, I was the B side. I didn’t cry, I didn’t complain, I beat him and I became the A side. For Conor McGregor, I’m coming out of retirement, just to fight Conor McGregor.
“I don’t want to hear no more excuses about the money, about the UFC. Sign the paper with the UFC so you can fight me in June. Simple and plain. Let’s fight in June. You’re the B side, I’m the A side.
"We’re not here to cry about money. I’m tired of all this crying about money and talking about you want to fight. You blowing smoke up everybody’s ass. If you want to fight, sign the paperwork, let’s do it.
“Today, I’m officially out of retirement for Conor McGregor. We don’t need to waste no time. We need to make this s**t happen quickly. Let’s get it on in June.”
Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor 'set date AND venue for lucrative super-fight'
The biggest PPV Boxing/UFC events of all time
After Floyd Mayweather’s announced that he is coming out of retirement, it looks like we will soon see the dream fight between the undefeated boxer and UFC fighter Conor McGregor confirmed. McGregor will step out of the Octogon and into the ring to face Mayweather in a traditional boxing match, which obviously favours the American. The two men are the biggest stars in their respective sports so if and when they clash in this super fight, both will become even richer than they already are. Neither of the duo is short of a few quid and it is estimated that this fight will end up breaking PPV records, meaning they’ll both walk away with a split of what will be the biggest purse in history, money often goes to money! Ahead of the fight, we’ve looked back at the 10 biggest grossing PPV events (both boxing and UFC) of all time to see just how historic the Mayweather/McGregor fight will be if it does, as expected, break records.
The biggest PPV Boxing/UFC events of all time
We need some sort of a build up to this, you know a 'behind the ropes' or a ''gloves are off'' sort of thing.
We need videos of Master eating burgers and throwing money around whilst Primo is quietly spending time training and playing with his kids, then we can cut to a dark room where both are sitting awkwardly backwards on chairs whilst having in depth searching questions asked by none other than the legend that is Paul Kevin
Primo has been awfully quiet on this subject.
Deep down he has come to the realisation that the fight will happen.
The bum is scared.
If the Connor fight makes Floyd 50-0 or 49-1 then it looks like Master has won the bet
regardless of if it is panto exhibition style bollocks unfortunately it still counts as a professional boxing bout therefore Master has won the bet...sorry Primo I have to be fair here, the T&C's apply on both sides