After months – nay, years – of speculation, a fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather has been confirmed. But how did it get to this point? We take a look at the 15 steps to Vegas…
After months – nay, years – of speculation, a superfight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor has finally been confirmed.
UFC star McGregor will complete a crossover into boxing to face the 49-0 undefeated Mayweather at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.
But how did it get to this point? Starting back in July 2015, Sportsmail lists the 15 major steps that secured the so-called ‘fight of the century’.
July 2,2015
It all started almost two years ago, with a flippant question posed to McGregor on US TV talk show ‘Conan’. A hypothetical bout had been discussed by many in passing, but this was the first time it had been officially posed to one of the fighters.
‘If you’re asking would I like to fight Floyd, who would not like to dance around the ring for $180 million? I certainly know he would not want to step into my world, the world of pure unarmed combat where there is no limitations, but I would most certainly step into his world.
‘I would certainly box him if the opportunity arose. Most certainly.’ The ball was rolling…
April 19,2016
For close to a year, it all went quiet. Surely it wasn’t possible to secure a fight between two men in completely different sports, let alone the fact that one of them had retired back in 2015? But wait… McGregor tweets that he too is retiring.
Surely this fight is impossible now.
May 6,2016
Less than a month later, out of nowhere, things take a huge turn. McGregor had confirmed he was not actually retiring, and then reports in the UK press claim a ‘billion dollar megafight’ is close to being agreed.
UFC chief Dana White, though, says otherwise and insists: ‘It’s not true, it’s just a tabloid story.’
May 8,2016
Much to the dismay of Dana White, McGregor goes against the words of his boss just two days later with a very interesting tweet to send the media back into a frenzy.
A picture of himself, face-to-face with Mayweather, alongside the caption: ‘MMA Vs Boxing.’ This superfight could well be back on the cards, then.
May 13,2016
So far, there has been a lot of verbal from McGregor, but considerably less from the other side of the Atlantic. Until now, that is.
Mayweather appears on showtime to fan the ever-increasing flames: ‘It’s really not a rumour. The fight may happen. We really don’t know, as of right now.
‘But do I think the fight will happen? Absolutely. We’re the A-side, of course. It has to be a boxing match, because most fights that Conor McGregor won inside the Octagon, he was a stand-up guy.’
November 30,2016
Skip forward to November, and it had been an up-and-down few months for McGregor. He was fined a huge $150,000 (£118,000) for a bottle-throwing incident ahead of UFC 202, which put him firmly in the bad books with Nevada State Athletic Commission.
A big stepping stone is achieved in November though, as McGregor receives a boxing license in California. Still a way to go, but a start.
January 11,2017
By the start of 2017, figures are being bandied around and McGregor has named his price to fight Mayweather. A huge $100m (£88m) .
The next thing we know, Mayweather appears on ESPN’s First Take show, a round-table discussion in which he is questioned about the fight. He even reveals how much he’s willing to give the Irishman.
‘We tried to make the Conor McGregor fight, ‘ he said. ‘They know what my number is — my number was a guaranteed $100m. That was my number.
‘We’re the A side, and I don’t really know how much money he has made before — I don’t know how much money Conor McGregor has made, but I’m pretty sure he hasn’t even made $10m in an MMA bout. But we are willing to give him $15m.’
January 13,2017
More figures just two days later, this time official ones from Dana White as he makes both fighters an offer. $25million each, for the fight to go ahead.
After his $100m claims on TV that week, perhaps unsurprisingly Mayweather turns the offer down immediately.
February 14/15,2017
Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day as Floyd gives an update while watching an NBA match at Oklahoma City Thunder. By this point, it’s the fight on everyone’s lips. ‘We’re getting very, very close, ‘ is Money Man’s official response.
Just a day later, the odds on the fight happening are slashed even further as the Nevada State Athletic Commission say they are willing to grant McGregor a boxing license, despite the UFC 202 bottle-throwing debacle.
March 8,2017
Floyd’s on tour in the UK, and left, right and centre, questions are being levelled at him regarding McGregor and the superfight.
At an event promoting one of his fighters, Mayweather pulls no punches – excuse the pun – when asked about a potential deal by ESPN.
‘If Conor McGregor really wants this fight to happen, stop blowing smoke up everybody’s ass, ‘ he said.
‘Sign the paper. Sign the paper. You said you were boss, so just sign the paper and let’s make it happen.’
March 15,2017
Previously, Dana White has been very coy on fight discussions. You may remember him quashing rumours back in 2016. Now, though, he turns up on Conan in the US and admits that it’s very likely a fight will take place at some point.
‘I do think it’s going to happen, ‘ he said. ‘There’s so much money involved, I just don’t see how it doesn’t happen.’
March 22,2017
McGregor’s huge fine, dished out to him by the NSAC, is downgraded heavily to just $25,000 (£19,600) and 25 hours of community service.
He looks set to be granted a boxing license in Nevada, meaning a Las Vegas bout would be possible. Boxes are being ticked.
April 19,2017
As you would perhaps expect, money talk is still dominating the rumours. How much will each fighter make from this? Who’s getting more?
Dana White wades in again, this time speaking on The Herd about the negotiations, which are still happening in the background.
