McGregor signs deal for Mayweather fight

LONDON: The long-rumoured bout between undefeated American boxing champion Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor is halfway to becoming a reality after the Irish signed a deal for the fight, it was announced on Wednesday night.

UFC President Dana White broke the news during a television interview for TNT following the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

“The McGregor side is done, I’m starting to work on the Mayweather side now,” White said.

“I’ve got one side done. If we can come to a deal (with Mayweather) the fight will happen.”

McGregor confirmed the deal in a statement released to Themaclife.com.

“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,” the statement read.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

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.

Not everyone would be excited to see a Mayweather-McGregor boxing match. Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has said a bout between the two would be an “embarrassment” for the sport of boxing. The two sides have been exchanging verbal spats and challenges for several months. The proposed bout would be straight boxing match.