FLOYD MAYWEATHER JNR says he is only interested in coming out of retirement for the long-mooted bout against Conor McGregor.
The UFC lightweight champion called out the undefeated welterweight Mayweather, who turns 40 next month, by saying he wanted $100 (€94.55) million to fight the American in a boxing contest.
Speaking to ESPN today, Mayweather echoed McGregor’s demand while also countering with what he feels the Dubliner’s purse should consist of.
“We tried to make the Conor McGregor fight,” Mayweather said on ESPN’s First Take.
“My number is a guaranteed $100 million. That was my number. We are willing to give him $15 (€14.17) 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 eight or nine million in a fight?”
With his long-standing rival Manny Pacquiao planning to lace up his gloves again to fight Kell Brook, Mayweather dismissed talk of a rematch with the Phillipines legend, saying:
Only thing I’m probably interested in is the Conor McGregor fight — I’m a businessman, and it makes business sense. I believe in what me and Al Haymon talk about every day — I believe in working smarter, not harder.”
He adds: “Everybody keeps talking about Conor McGregor. He’s blowing smoke up everybody’s ass; Dana White, the UFC… let’s make it happen. Bring him over to the boxing world, and I’ll show him what it’s like.”
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