Conor McGregor reveals secret talks over MMA fight with top pound-for-pound boxing star in unprecedented two-fight deal
Conor McGregor has claimed he was offered a sensational two-fight deal with one of boxingâs biggest current names, that included a bout in the octagon.
The UFC legend showed his mettle in 2017 when he headed over to the ring to face the iconic Floyd Mayweather in a rare crossover fight. Since then there has been an eagerness to see him back in the ring, and he has linked back up with his childhood Crumlin Boxing Club.
He lost that bout to Mayweather after an impressive ten-rounds, and now insists that he will only take a similar deal if he is allowed to face the boxer in the UFC octagon. And he now says he has held talks over a potential two-fight contract to face pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford.
Who is Conor McGregor? Step inside the hedonistic life of UFCâs ânotoriousâ bad boy and legendary double champConor McGregor details âmulti-million dollarâ fight talks with Terence CrawfordLast weekend, Conor McGregor was in attendance at Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois in Wembley Arena, and met Crawford ringside with boxing supremo Turki Alalsheikh. The pair spoke briefly, and it appears that a fight between the pair was brought up.
âCrawford is very slick, he also has a wrestling background pedigree,â McGregor noted during a recent Kick stream for Duelbits. âYou know theyâre always talking to me about bouts. Iâve already boxed a boxer, and the best boxer in MMA is me.
âI generate the most [money]. We were talking back and forth about a two-fight deal. He rings up Crawford in front of me the day after the fights. I get on the phone and say âCrawford, theyâre here talking about you and me; two-fight deal, MMA first, boxing second.
âI know you have an extensive wrestling background, and balls the size of a Bengal tiger. Theyâre asking for a fight, itâll be hundreds of millions on the line. âWhatâs up?â, I said and then he goes, âI donât fancy taking a kick off Conor McGregorâ, thatâs what he said. You have to respect that.â
Terence Crawfordâs promoters previously offered two-fight deal to Conor McGregor in 2020It appears to be a different tune from Crawford than he and his team as recently as 2021, when they appeared keen to do a two-fight deal. The boxerâs coaches were confident that he could win both bouts, while generating massive money in the process.
After headlining at Madison Square Garden against Egidijus âMean Machineâ Kavaliauskas in December of 2019, promoter Bob Arum proposed a deal for the pair to compete first in the cage and then in the ring.
âYouâve got an elite boxer in Terence Crawford fighting an elite MMA guy in Conor McGregor under MMA rules,â Arum told ESPN at the time.
âYou donât think that would be interesting and something the public would want to see? I think itâs very realistic. Whenever they are ready, we are ready. Weâd do the MMA fight first if thatâs what they want.â
Conor McGregor plots UFC comeback for 2025 after losing out on Michael Chandler fightAfter two years of building up a fight with Michael Chandler, McGregor missed out on his chance to fight the American this year. They were due to meet at UFC 303 in Las Vegas, but the Irishman suffered a broken toe which forced him out of the event.
Now, Chandler is set to rematch Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, as he opts to move on from the bout after all that time. Meanwhile, speaking on the DAZN broadcast last week McGregor noted that it is now unlikely he fights in 2024.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesâIt will be 2025,â he replied when asked by Ariel Helwani. âWe will see. My opponent that I had scheduled has been matched, it is what it is. I take it on board and rock on. My job is to go to the gym and be in shape. Whenever it is and wherever it is, I will be 100 per cent ready.â
He is keen to keep Chandler as his opponent, despite the booking of his fight with Oliveira. Asked who his next opponent will be, he replied: âWho knows, it does not matter. Whoever, letâs see. I like it to be Chandler. I wish him well and see where it goes.â
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