AP
Are boxing and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), fierce rivals for the loyalty of combat sport fans, closer than we thought to a fusion fight?
Talk of such a possible showdown flared up again last week when Conor McGregor was issued a license to box professionally in California.
The colorful Irishman, the first in UFC history to wear two championship belts simultaneously—lightweight and featherweight—is eyeing boxing licenses in other states as well.
Unmindful of a probable rematch between retired undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and boxing’s only elected senator Manny Pacquiao, McGregor has generated headlines lately.
He has called out Mayweather, cajoling him to get into the ring for a fight that would satisfy both ring and octagon followers worldwide.
The two have tussled on traditional and social media over the last year. Most recently, McGregor said he wanted $100 million to take on Mayweather in the boxing arena.
And as if a path has been cleared for the dream match up, John Kavanagh, McGregor’s coach, recently told The Sun newspaper in London that his fighter’s California license represents the first concrete step toward making the bout happen.
“I am not breaking any news saying that there’s conversations going back and forth for the last year or so,” Kavanagh said. “Is it getting any closer? I don’t know; but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me that it’s going to happen.”
Mayweather earlier in the year also did his part to fan the flames of a fight with the Dublin native dubbed The Notorious, describing it possible.
And in May, Forbes Magazine said Mayweather Promotions filed for trademarks on the phrases TMT 50 and TBE 50—TMT refers to The Money Team and TBE is short for The Best Ever. Mayweather retired last year with a 49-0 record, so another win, possibly over McGregor—would bring him to 50.
But Conor’s bombast and his dare to Floyd are entirely his own. His contract is still held by the UFC and although he is chomping at the bit to take his talents into the ring, UFC would have to sign off.
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions also doused interest for a May-Mc encounter. He told ESPN.com there’s no way that the new owners of the UFC “spent all that money so they can get their biggest star killed.”