UFC’s Dana White makes Mayweather ‘real’ offer for bout with McGregor
So maybe there’s a chance.
One of the most discussed potential fights in combat sports history might have turned from impossibility to long shot Friday when UFC president Dana White made an offer for unbeaten retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. to take on UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor in a boxing match.
“Tell you what, Floyd, here’s a real offer,” White said during an appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” radio show. “And I’m the guy. I’m the guy that can actually make the offer, and I’m actually making a real offer.
“We’ll pay you $25 million. We’ll pay Conor $25 million. And then we’ll talk about pay-per-view (revenue) at a certain number. There’s a real offer.”
The offer was well short of Mayweather’s $100 million asking price to come out of retirement to box against the biggest star in mixed martial arts. Mayweather quickly rejected the offer, speaking to White through TMZ cameras later Friday.
“You’re a (expletive) comedian,” Mayweather said of White’s offer, before asking the cameraman to look up the value of his Hublot watch.
Mayweather made news earlier in the week during an appearance on ESPN when he said he was willing to make the dream fight a reality for a guaranteed payday of $100 million.
“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?”
While McGregor’s disclosed paydays for his last several fights have been short of that number, he is believed to make well above $10 million per fight when pay-per-view bonuses are included.
Mayweather, 39, last fought in September 2015. McGregor won the UFC lightweight title with a knockout of Eddie Alvarez in November and announced a hiatus from MMA as he prepares for the birth of his first child in May.
A bout between the superstars has been discussed for about a year, but had been considered a long shot because McGregor is under contract with the UFC and the organization would have to have involvement in the promotion. Mayweather has his own promotion company and typically runs his own events.
White reiterated to Cowherd that the UFC would have to be the promoter for any contest between the fighters. He also took issue with Mayweather’s claims about being the star attraction.
“How (is he) the ‘A’ side?” White asked of Mayweather. “The last major fight (he was) in, (he) left such a bad taste in everyone’s mouth that nobody wants to see (him) again. His last fight did 350,000 pay-per-view buys. Conor’s last two fights did 1.3 million and 1.5 million.
“There’s a reason you want this Conor McGregor fight so bad. You know that’s your money fight.”
Another potential snag is finding a location. Nevada Athletic Commission officials have said it would be hard to justify sanctioning a fight between one of the best boxers in history and an opponent making his professional boxing debut.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-277-8028. Follow @adamhilllvrj on Twitter.