London: Floyd Mayweather Jr said on Saturday a fight against UFC champion Conor McGregor is “90 per cent” likely — if he boxes again.
The retired undefeated five-weight world champion, who has not boxed since September 2015, admits he wants to fight Irishman McGregor rather than any boxer in a clash that would attract global interest and could set new records for pay-per-view revenue.
UFC lightweight champion McGregor, 28, last week applied for a boxing licence in Nevada and there has been mounting speculation the pair will meet in the boxing ring this year.
American Mayweather, 40, broke his silence on ending his retirement and trying to extend his perfect record to 50-0 against McGregor, who has a UFC record of 21 wins and three defeats.
“If I do fight, there’s a 90 per cent chance it’s against Conor McGregor,” Mayweather told a news conference on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena in London.
“The only sort of numbers I worry about are pay-per-view numbers. I have to see what the next move is.”
Critics have claimed it would be a mismatch, but Mayweather insists it is the biggest fight to be made in boxing and mixed martial arts.
“The only fight that makes sense to me is the McGregor fight,” Mayweather said.
“I’ve accomplished everything [else] I want to accomplish. Conor McGregor is professional and so am I. He’s a stand-up fighter and I’m a stand-up fighter,” he said.
“The fans demand that fight and you have to give the fans what they want to see.”
Mayweather, who was sport’s biggest earner before he retired following his win over Andre Berto in September 2015, will discuss fighting McGregor with his adviser Al Haymon when he returns to America next week.
“I’m over here right now, working, always working,” said Mayweather, who outpointed Manny Pacquiao in boxing’s richest fight in Las Vegas in May 2015.
“When I get back to the US I will call Al [Haymon] and see what our next move is, there’s no rush. I have to put my team together.
“Most likely, when we do make the move, it’s going to be a very huge move. When Floyd Mayweather fights, it’s history.
“The only thing I’m chasing right now is my own record. When the times comes, I will get the team together.”
In Washington, US southpaw Gary Russell stopped Colombian Oscar Escandon 59 seconds into the seventh round on Saturday to retain his World Boxing Council featherweight crown.
After an undercard bout that had American police searching for the winner’s uncle following a post-fight attack, Russell dominated his South American rival in his first world title contest.
Russell improved to 28-1 with his 17th victory inside the distance while Escandon fell to 25-3.
Russell landed a powerful right hook early in the third round that forced Escandon to touch his hands to the canvas for balance, suffering only the second knockdown of his career.
The South American took more punishment throughout the round, Russell landing powerful combinations, but switched to a southpaw style in the fourth and blunted Russell’s momentum at the National Harbor casino.
A right hook in the seventh backed up Escandon, whose knees buckled near the ropes as Russell landed a solid left that prompted referee Harvey Dock to stop the fight.
“It was a good performance,” Russell said. “I knew he would be a tough opponent. It was my job to make the necessary adjustments.”
