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Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather mega fight inches closer to completion after Dana White confirmation

Sport360 staff

09:12 18/05/2017

Fight promoter Dana White says he has an agreement with mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor fpr a proposed megafight, but boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather remains unsigned.

White told American television cable channel TNT on Wednesday night that McGregor has agreed to a boxing match and not a martial arts fight which heavily favors Mayweather, who has never lost in his two-decades long storied career.

White said they still have a long way to go. But his plan now is to try to lure Mayweather out retirement for a superfight with McGregor.

“The McGregor side is done,” Ultimate Fighting Champion president White said. “I’m not saying the fight will happen but I got one side done and it’s time to work on the other (Mayweather).

“If we can come to a deal with (Al) Haymon and (Floyd) Mayweather, the fight’s going to happen.”

White said that McGregor has agreed to step in the ring with the undefeated Mayweather despite not having fought competitively in a boxing ring since he was a teenager. McGregor was granted a license to box in California several months ago.

McGregor, a 28-year-old Irishman, has been the UFC’s most popular fighter and among its top money spinners while Mayweather, a 40-year-old American, retired in 2015 with a 49-0 record including 26 victories by knockout.

White has said the fight could generate a payday of $100 million for Mayweather and $75 million for McGregor. Mayweather has repeatedly said that he won’t come out of retirement, against anyone, for less than $100 million.

McGregor then reaffirmed the news in a statement on his website, TheMacLife.com as he stated: “It is an honor to sign this record breaking deal alongside my partners Zuffa LLC, The Ultimate Fighting Championship and Paradigm Sports Management.

“The first, and most important part of this historic contract has now officially been signed off on. Congratulations to all parties involved. We now await Al Haymon and his boxer’s signature in the coming days.”

While the latest development points towards the superfight between two of the biggest stars in combat boxing coming to fruition, there is much work to be done with Mayweather infamous for his meticulous approach to bout agreements.

However, the former five-weight boxing world champion hinted that he wants to get the deal done as he spoke to reporters in England ahead of his protegee Gervonta Davis’s clash with Liam Walsh.

“There’s only one fight that makes business sense,”said the undefeated 49-0 boxer.

“I came out of retirement because I’m a businessman and I want to give the world what they want to see.

“McGregor’s a fighter. I’m a fighter. This is what the fight fans and MMA fans want to see.”

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