By Edward Chaykovsky
John Kavanagh, the head trainer for UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, revealed that his fighter was looking to get an even 50-50 split for a potential cross-sport fight with former five division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs).
McGregor is currently training for his upcoming rematch against Nate Diaz at UFC 202, taking place on August 20th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The very popular MMA fighter was choked out by Diaz back in March when they collided in a catch-weight bout that was well above the UFC featherweight limit.
For whatever reason, Mayweather was vocally pushing for a potential fight with McGregor and even named the MMA star as the "only fight" he would consider coming back for.
Most saw Mayweather's interviews as nothing more than a publicity stunt to get headlines. UFC President Dana White was very clear that neither Mayweather or any of representatives had ever reached to discuss the terms for a McGregor fight.
According to Kavanagh, his fighter was very interested in facing Mayweather - in a boxing match - but there is no way they would accept anything less than a 50-50 split of the revenue.
He says McGregor would do a lot better than many people would expect. Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach was open in his belief that it would take at least 2-3 years for McGregor to prepare for Mayweather - if they fight under the traditional rules of a boxing match.
"There was talk that Conor would get $7 million and Floyd would get the rest of it. It will be an even share or Conor will not do it. There is no one generating the type of media that Conor is," Kavanagh told the Business Post in Ireland.
"It would have to be an even split. Conor is not going to take it if Floyd is getting more than him. Floyd needs Conor more than Conor needs Floyd right now.
"Floyd is amazing. He is incredible. I don't think there is a boxer who could beat him. He has figured out boxing, but Conor doesn't move like a boxer."
