Conor McGregor ready to capitalise and do “half-billion” fight with Floyd Mayweather

The Notorious reckons he would knock Floyd Mayweather out cold in a real fight.

One of the stranger combat sports feuds that have developed in recent times is the beef between Mayweather and UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. It began building speed when colour commentator Joe Rogan made the claim that Rousey would defeat the boxing world champion in an MMA fight. McGregor confirmed that he would be very interested in taking on Mayweather, speaking to Donald McCrae of the Guardian.

“I’d also jump in and box Mayweather. 100%. What do you think would happen?”

The Notorious conceded that he would lose to Mayweather if they fought a traditional boxing bout, but a 'real fight' against either Rousey or himself would only have one outcome.

“Yeah, but in a real fight I would dismantle him in seconds. Ronda would dismantle him in seconds – 100%. When you don’t know how to grapple you don’t stand a chance." "For us, it’s like playing with a baby. People who don’t understand the sport cannot understand how vulnerable they are. There are always clinches and Ronda is a judo Olympian. She would throw Floyd on his head in a second. Me? I would knock him out. Cold.”

McGregor admitted that it was unlikely that Mayweather would be willing to step inside the Octagon to face him. However, with "Money" running out of marquee boxers to beat, McGregor reckons that a cross-style fight with him would be the most lucrative option available.

“Why would he take me on? But if you’re talking about a fight that could generate half-a-billion – it’s this one. There’s never going to be another boxing fight like this." "Only a cross-style match between Mayweather and me could generate that kind of interest and revenue. So maybe it could happen. I would certainly be up for it. I am capitalising on every single opportunity. It’s a strong word, one of my favourite words: capitalise. I’m ready to capitalise on everything.”

It's almost certainly never going to happen, but it would certainly be a lot more intriguing than Mayweather's next bout. A fight against Andre Berto will serve as the underwhelming follow-up to the "Fight of the Century" against Manny Pacquiao. Hat-tip to the Guardian