Dana White tells McGregor to focus on MMA, forget about boxing for now

FILE — Conor McGregor (L) greets UFC President Dana White during a press conference for UFC 229 at Park Theater at Park MGM on October 04, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will challenge UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for his title at UFC 229 on October 06 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Isaac Brekken/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Conor McGregor is a man of many interests, but his UFC boss Dana White wants him to focus on MMA for now.

In an ESPN interview, White said that he wants McGregor to turn his focus on the Octagon, especially with the rematch against Dustin Poirier looming.

White did not exactly prevent McGregor from venturing into a boxing match against Manny Pacquiao, but he wanted the Irish superstar to just put those heavier gloves on the shelf until 2022.

“A boxing match with any of these guys, that stuff’s always going to be there. You are the absolute best in the world right now in MMA and the timing is right now,” said White h/t MMAFighting.com. “Not getting any younger. I’d love to see him go for it here over the next year. If he wants to fight one of these boxing guys, do that next year. That fight’s always going to be there.”

McGregor has one professional boxing fight under his belt, a loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017, is in the talks of once again stepping into the ring when his bout against Pacquiao is ultimately signed.

There’s also the prospect of fighting YouTuber Jake Paul that’s rumored to earn him an eight-figure paycheck.

However, White would rather see McGregor in the Octagon and, potentially, get another crack at UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov if the Russian superstar comes out of retirement.

“The way that this kid is right now mentally, physically, emotionally, I mean this kid is on and ready to fight,” said White. “I would love to see him focused on what he can do here at the UFC. Whether it takes another shot at that title against Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or fight for the title against somebody else if Khabib retires and defend that title.