Conor McGregor reveals secret talks over MMA fight with top pound-for-pound boxing star in unprecedented two-fight deal
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Conor McGregor has claimed he was offered a sensational two-fight deal with one of boxing’s 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.
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Conor McGregor details ‘multi-million dollar’ fight talks with Terence Crawford
Last 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.
"Crawford is very slick, he also has a wrestling background pedigree,” McGregor noted during a recent Kick stream for Duelbits. “You know they're always talking to me about bouts. I've already boxed a boxer, and the best boxer in MMA is me.
“I 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 'Crawford, they're here talking about you and me; two-fight deal, MMA first, boxing second.
“I know you have an extensive wrestling background, and balls the size of a Bengal tiger. They're asking for a fight, it'll be hundreds of millions on the line. ‘What's up?’, I said and then he goes, 'I don't fancy taking a kick off Conor McGregor', that's what he said. You have to respect that.”
Terence Crawford’s promoters previously offered two-fight deal to Conor McGregor in 2020
It 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 boxer’s coaches were confident that he could win both bouts, while generating massive money in the process.
After headlining at Madison Square Garden against Egidijus ‘Mean Machine’ 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.
“You’ve got an elite boxer in Terence Crawford fighting an elite MMA guy in Conor McGregor under MMA rules,” Arum told ESPN at the time.
“You don’t think that would be interesting and something the public would want to see? I think it’s very realistic. Whenever they are ready, we are ready. We’d do the MMA fight first if that’s what they want.”
Conor McGregor plots UFC comeback for 2025 after losing out on Michael Chandler fight
After 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.
"It will be 2025," he replied when asked by Ariel Helwani. "We 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.”
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: "Who knows, it does not matter. Whoever, let's see. I like it to be Chandler. I wish him well and see where it goes."
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