Kemal
01-12-2016, 09:34
OK, don’t start booking your flights for Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor just yet, but “The Notorious” is at least one step closer to making such an unlikely contest a reality.
Following an initial report from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, California State Athletic Commission officials today confirmed that McGregor has been issued a license to box in The Golden State.
UFC President Dana White declined to comment when contacted by MMAjunkie.
The move certainly comes at an interesting time for McGregor and the UFC. The ultra-popular Irishman made history earlier this month, becoming the first man to simultaneously hold two UFC titles after downing Eddie Alvarez to add the promotion’s lightweight title to a trophy case that already held the featherweight title, as well.
UFC boss White said McGregor would have to let go of one of the titles, though the 28-year-old famously said he wasn’t planning on willingly making such a decision.
This past weekend, UFC officials announced that McGregor had relinquished his 145-pound title, with interim champ Jose Aldo accepting undisputed status, and top contenders Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis battling for an interim title at UFC 206.
McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) has yet to officially respond to the UFC’s move.
Of course, the UFC still owns the promotional rights for McGregor’s combat sports career, so booking a long-discussed fantasy fight with boxing great Mayweather (49-0 boxing) isn’t as simple as getting a license and signing a promotional deal, but the move to gain licensure in another sport certainly seems pointed, especially coming from a fighter who has proved masterful at blazing his own path.
A boxing-only fight would be an almost-certain blowout for Mayweather, possibly damaging the brand of McGregor – and by extension, the UFC – making it a challenge for promotion officials to lend out their biggest star, regardless of the amount of revenue generated in a single co-promotioed event. Meanwhile, an MMA fight would certainly prove a walk-through for McGregor, and thus an impossibility for the famously vain boxer.
Following an initial report from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, California State Athletic Commission officials today confirmed that McGregor has been issued a license to box in The Golden State.
UFC President Dana White declined to comment when contacted by MMAjunkie.
The move certainly comes at an interesting time for McGregor and the UFC. The ultra-popular Irishman made history earlier this month, becoming the first man to simultaneously hold two UFC titles after downing Eddie Alvarez to add the promotion’s lightweight title to a trophy case that already held the featherweight title, as well.
UFC boss White said McGregor would have to let go of one of the titles, though the 28-year-old famously said he wasn’t planning on willingly making such a decision.
This past weekend, UFC officials announced that McGregor had relinquished his 145-pound title, with interim champ Jose Aldo accepting undisputed status, and top contenders Max Holloway and Anthony Pettis battling for an interim title at UFC 206.
McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) has yet to officially respond to the UFC’s move.
Of course, the UFC still owns the promotional rights for McGregor’s combat sports career, so booking a long-discussed fantasy fight with boxing great Mayweather (49-0 boxing) isn’t as simple as getting a license and signing a promotional deal, but the move to gain licensure in another sport certainly seems pointed, especially coming from a fighter who has proved masterful at blazing his own path.
A boxing-only fight would be an almost-certain blowout for Mayweather, possibly damaging the brand of McGregor – and by extension, the UFC – making it a challenge for promotion officials to lend out their biggest star, regardless of the amount of revenue generated in a single co-promotioed event. Meanwhile, an MMA fight would certainly prove a walk-through for McGregor, and thus an impossibility for the famously vain boxer.