Undefeated boxing champ Floyd Mayweather has revealed plans to face UFC star Conor McGregor sometime next year in a rematch of their 2017 bout.
In an exclusive interview with Sportsmail, Mayweather said he and McGregor have agreed to meet again, with only a few details still to be finalized.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be an exhibition or a real fight. But there’s been talks of both,” Mayweather, 45, said, adding that he would prefer an exhibition because “I am not into fights where I am going to take any real punishment.”
Mayweather won their first bout in Las Vegas with a 10th-round TKO.
“So, guys like Conor McGregor and guys that don’t really hit hard such as YouTubers or UFC guys, I don’t really mind colliding with those kinds of individuals but nothing where I am going to put myself in a position where I am going to harm myself or hurt myself,” he added.
Mayweather, whose win over McGregor pushed his lifetime record to 50-0, has a pair of boxing exhibitions on his upcoming schedule: one this weekend against Mikuru Asakura and another one in Dubai in November.
McGregor, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since suffering a broken leg in his last UFC fight, a loss to Dustin Poirier on July 10, 2021.
Since then, McGregor has expressed a desire to return to the boxing ring. “Boxing is my first love in combat sports,” he told Sky Sports in May. “I had such a great time the last time I was out there.”
UPDATE: McGregor responded to Mayweather on Instagram, indicating he is not interested.
