UFC Champion Conor McGregor (left) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. AFP FILE PHOTOS
After Floyd Mayweather Jr. said that racism still existed in boxing and implied that Conor McGregor is getting a pass for his trash-talking because of race, the Irishman hit back and even challenged the retired boxer to a fight.
McGregor posted a lengthy note on Instagram, where he also thanked media organizations for showering him with awards in 2015, telling Mayweather to leave race off his rise to success.
READ: Mayweather says racism exists in boxing
“Floyd Mayweather, don’t ever bring race into my success again,” the UFC featherweight champion said in the post. “I am an Irishman. My people have been oppressed our entire existence. And still very much are. I understand the feeling of prejudice. It is a feeling that is deep in my blood.”
Mayweather told Fighthype.com late last month that UFC fighters McGregor and Ronda Rousey are proof that racism is still rampant in the sport.
READ: McGregor, Holm to headline double main event for UFC 197—reports
“They say he [McGregor] talks a lot of trash and people praise him for it, but when I did it, they say I’m cocky and arrogant. So biased! Like I said before, all I’m saying is this, I ain’t racist at all, but I’m telling you racism still exists.”
McGregor even gave a little family history of what being a “McGregor” was like in the past.
READ: Liddell fan of McGregor’s fighting style, but not his trash-talking
“In my family’s long history of warfare there was a time where just having the name ‘McGregor’ was punishable by death,” McGregor said. “Do not ever put me in a bracket like this again.”
He then proceeded to issue a challenge to Mayweather, but unlike Money’s previous fights, McGregor would take a bigger purse.
READ: UFC’s McGregor: I’d ‘kill’ Mayweather in less than 30 seconds on the Octagon
“If you want we can organize a fight no problem,” McGregor said. “I will give you a fair 80/20 split purse in my favor seen as your last fight bombed at every area of revenue.”
“At 27 years of age I now hold the key to this game. The game answers to me now.”