Floyd Mayweather is aiming to fight Conor McGregor next year.
In an interview with Sportsmail, Mayweather said that discussions are underway for another boxing bout between himself and McGregor. They fought August 2017, in what was one of the best combat sport pay-per-views ever. Mayweather defeated McGregor by TKO in Round 10.
Mayweather 45, faces Japanese MMA Star Mikuru Asakura at an exhibition bout Saturday at Super RIZIN in Saitama. After that, he hopes to meet McGregor sometime in 2023.
“I want to go out there this weekend and have fun,” Mayweather said. “Then I have another exhibition in Dubai in November and me and Conor McGregor in 2023.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be an exhibition or a real fight. But there’s been talks of both. An exhibition .”
would be my preference.
McGregor and Mayweather met in a professional fight. McGregor, a boxing icon, was up against McGregor who had just won a lightweight title by knocking out Eddie Alvarez. Mayweather’s win over McGregor improved his record to 50-0 and he subsequently retired and has only fought in exhibitions since, including a previous appearance for RIZIN where he made quick work of kickboxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa.
After retirement, Mayweather finds that exhibits are more appealing to him.
” I don’t like fights that involve me taking any punishment.” Mayweather said. “So, guys like Conor McGregor and guys that don’t really hit hard such as YouTubers or UFC guys, I don’t really mind colliding with those kinds of individuals but nothing where I am going to put myself in a position where I am going to harm myself or hurt myself.”
Talks of a rematch between Mayweather and McGregor have been on and off since their first encounter, with both sides lobbying public shots at each other. Recently, UFC President Dana White shot down rumors of the sequel happening anytime soon, stating that when McGregor does fight again it “will be in the cage.”
