It wasn’t too long ago that Conor McGregor trumpeted, in his peerless style, that he is the epicentre of the MMA and the boxing world. It appears now, that his words might prove prophetic, with MMAfighting.com reporting that the UFC Lightweight champion has been granted a boxing license in the state of California.
The 28-year-old has applied for boxing licenses in other states as well and it would be safe to bet that Nevada, the cradle of showcase fights, is one of them. McGregor, on an indefinite hiatus for the birth of his first child, has found a way to grab the spotlight by the collar and swing it back to himself even when he’s not on stage.
This move, to legitimise his long-sought venture into the world of professional boxing, only takes him one step closer to his much-ridiculed desire of fighting Floyd Mayweather. McGregor has shouted from rooftops of his ambition to set up a $100 million showdown with the retired multiple division Champion.
After toppling Jose Aldo’s ten-year regime to seize the Featherweight throne and toying with Eddie Alvarez before winning the Lightweight belt, it seems like McGregor is ravenous for new conquests. In his own words:
“Floyd's not ready for this. Much respect to Floyd, he's a solid businessman. What he has been able to do, he's a f—-ing animal at what he's been able to do but as far as real fighting, as far as true, pure unarmed combat — Floyd don't want none of this. He does not want none of this. He wants it under boxing rules. He wants a boxing match. He doesn't want a fight. Tell Floyd and Showtime, I'm coming. Tell him to go to them Showtime offices. I want $100 million cash to fight you under boxing rules cause he's afraid of a real fight.”
California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer, Andy Foster, welcomed McGregor’s initiative, saying, “He's qualified [as a boxer]. I'd love to see him fight in California. It just needs to be the right opponent. Certainly a high-level opponent. We're happy to license him. We're happy he's a California fighter."
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