By Carlos Boogs
Former five division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs) believes he is a bigger name in Mixed Martial Arts than UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor.
Mayweather, 39-years-old, retired from boxing in September 2015. For most of this year, Mayweather and McGregor have been trading words in the press. There was even some discussion of them fighting, but that never came together - and the UFC President Dana White stated that Mayweather had never contacted them to discuss the matchup.
McGregor made UFC history last Saturday night at New York's Madison Square Garden, after knocking out Eddie Alvarez to become the first fighter to hold two UFC titles in two weight divisions.
After some of his recent wins and during numerous pre-fight media events, McGregor has been actively calling for a fight with Mayweather. He's willing to make the fight - if there is enough money on the table - in a boxing ring.
Mayweather says McGregor is simply using his name to gain headlines. He doesn't fault the Irish superstar. Mayweather admits he would be doing the exact same thing if he was in McGregor's position. But, as Mayweather stated earlier today, he is offended that anyone would compare him and McGregor as athletes or businessmen.
"I think what it really is, he's smart. He's smart at what he do - he's piggybacking off my name. That's what guys have been doing for years. I would do the same thing, I would piggybacking off Floyd Mayweather's name. He's piggybacking off my name. Right now I'm not competing in boxing and I'm not competing in MMA. I've never competed in MMA, but I'm the biggest name in MMA and in boxing. And I've been off over a year," Mayweather told TMZ.
"It's time for Conor McGregor to go out there and do what he do, but never compare Conor McGregor to me - that's total disrespect."
