Conor McGregor (L) punches Nate Diaz during UFC 196 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo : Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion Conor McGregor will face Nate Diaz in a rematch at UFC 202 in August. But that does not mean that McGregor's proposed boxing match against Floyd Mayweather is dead.
McGregor's head coach John Kavanagh remained firm on his previous statement, insisting that the Mayweather-McGregor boxing match can still happen after UFC 202. However, Kavanagh told Business Post in Ireland that they will only accept the challenge for the right price.
Kavanagh said that the Mayweather-McGregor showdown could generate as much $100 million in revenue. The mixed martial arts coach revealed that they heard Mayweather wants McGregor to accept $7 million as purse, which they think is very unreasonable.
For the fight to happen, Kavanagh said that they should get 50 percent of the total revenue. He pointed out that McGregor deserves a 50-50 split because he is also a big pay-per-view draw at this point of his career.
"It will be an even share or Conor will not do it," Kavanagh said. "There is no one generating the type of media that Conor is. It would have to be an even split."
McGregor is coming off a devastating loss to Diaz at UFC 196, where he absorbed a huge upset loss. On the other hand, Mayweather has already retired from boxing, following his unanimous decision win over Andre Berto in September last year.
While Mayweather has already proven numerous times that he can generate record-setting revenue, Kavanagh thinks the former boxing pound-for-pound king needs McGregor more than the UFC superstar needs Mayweather. He also insisted that it will not be a mismatch. In fact, he is convinced McGregor has the tools to shock the world.
"Floyd is amazing. He is incredible. I don't think there is a boxer who could beat him," Kavanagh said. "He has figured out boxing, but Conor doesn't move like a boxer."
Mayweather, who owns a perfect 49-0 record, has expressed interest in facing McGregor to the point that he posted promotional photos on social media. Mayweather told Los Angeles Times that he is enjoying his retirement but hinted that he is not closing his doors for a potential comeback bout. "For the right price, I may come back," he said.
Watch Mayweather talks about the possibility of facing McGregor in the video below.
