By Edward Chaykovsky
UFC champion Conor McGregor was fired up after reading some of the statements from Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, who brushed off the news that the MMA superstar recently obtained a boxing in the state of California.
McGregor received the license on Wednesday and attempted to obtain a license from Nevada, but his application was denied due to numerous issues with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
McGregor has been calling out Floyd Mayweather Jr. for several months. Mayweather himself has fueled their ongoing war of words by stating in several interviews, and on social media, that he was open to idea of facing McGregor in a boxing match.
The biggest hurdle in making this fantasy fight is McGregor being able to obtain permission from the UFC. That likely won't happen, as UFC President Dana White has made it clear that he won't allow McGregor to face Mayweather in a straight boxing match - and the UFC would have to be directly involved every step of the way.
"He got a boxing license. Congratulations to him. Conor McGregor can say anything he wants to, but he has a boss, and his name is Dana White. He is under contract to the UFC, and if he wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match he can't because his bosses wouldn't allow that to happen," Ellerbe told ESPN.
“They would never — and put this in bold caps — let him step into a boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather, because everyone knows what the outcome would be. He would get his ass beat from pillar to post. [Mayweather] beat world champions over a 20-year period and here's a guy, McGregor, who has about 20 fights and lost three of them, and three fights ago he was seen on the mat quitting. What are we talking about?"
“And I have a great deal of respect for what he does for a living. Floyd and I have nothing against UFC or any of their fighters. I respect all fighters who step in a ring or the Octagon, but Floyd is in the Bahamas enjoying life. He's not thinking about Conor McGregor or anyone else."
McGregor had some statements of his own in return. He feels Mayweather needs him more than he needs Mayweather.
According to McGregor, outside of the record-smashing event between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao from last May - McGregor believes he's the biggest draw when it comes to selling tickets and selling pay-per-views.
"F*** Floyd's manager, f*** Floyd's manager. Tell him to come say it to my face. I've got the boxing license, now Floyd is in the Bahamas. He was just here a minute ago. And I get the boxing license he's gone," McGregor told the press back home in Belfast, Ireland.
"I have the boxing license. Now I have the boxing license. It's their move now. Since I got the boxing license, Floyd's manager has come out and said 'oh Floyd is in the Bahamas, he doesn't care about Conor now.' Well I don't give a f*** about Floyd either. If you don't want this fight, then no problem. Other than the Floyd and Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view numbers, gate numbers - I hold all the numbers. I don't need Floyd. I do not need him. I have the boxing license."
