Arum Feels Mayweather Using McGregor Angle To 'Keep Current'

By Steve Kim

Veteran promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank isn't putting much stock into the reports/rumors of Floyd Mayweather coming out of retirement to face MMA superstar Conor McGregor that have sprouted up recently and have gained steam in the last week or so.

Mayweather stated during a Showtime televised interview that a fight with McGregor could "absolutely" take place and he was "50-50" on returning for such a fight. In fact, McGregor is the only comeback opponent who Mayweather continuously mentions.  

"I think Mayweather is using it to keep current,"opined Arum on Tuesday afternoon. "I mean, look, these guys can either fight with MMA rules in which case its no contest because Mayweather will get pinned. Or they can fight boxing in which case it's a no contest because this guy isn't a boxer and Floyd will destroy him."

Arum admitted that Mayweather-McGregor had a similar feel to the ill-fated Muhammad Ali-Antonio Inoki bout, an exhibition match that pitted the heavyweight great against a professional wrestler in 1976 that he just happened to promote.

''Yeah, I would say pretty much," said Arum with a chuckle.

Maybe all this is being talked about with Manny Pacquiao winning a seat in the Philippines senate. Arum says he has not spoken to him since the election results. Pacquiao promised that his April 9th bout against Tim Bradley would be his last.

Arum made it clear,"as far as I'm concerned he's retired. I'm not going to convince him to step out of retirement."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.