Conor McGregor applies for Nevada boxing license with eye on Floyd Mayweather showdown
Conor McGregor applies for Nevada boxing license with eye on Floyd Mayweather showdown, With the ink just dry on a deal with the UFC to fight Floyd Mayweather, Conor McGregor has again applied for a boxing license in Nevada.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission today confirmed to MMAjunkie that McGregor has submitted an application for the license, and the commission is "currently awaiting the rest of the documentation required."
The commission requires a potential licensee to pay a $50 fee, as well as submit photos and an application with basic biographical information. The application asks whether a fighter has ever been disciplined by the NSAC, which McGregor has following his settlement with the commission for a UFC 202 press conference melee with Nate Diaz.
McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will also need to submit ophthalmologic, brain scan and blood tests that prove he's in good health to fight. The process for the boxing license is virtually the same as the one to compete in MMA.
The major difference, of course, is that McGregor is 0-0 in the ring while Mayweather is 49-0 and widely celebrated as the best boxer of his time. Despite those numbers, NSAC executive director Bob Bennett previously has told USA TODAY Sports he doesn't anticipate any issues sanctioning McGregor to fight Mayweather.
This past December, McGregor's attorneys showed Bennett a video of the Irish champ boxing while attempting to gain a license. Bennett saw no issue giving one, but denied the license because McGregor hadn't paid a $150,000 penalty initially levied by the commission. He deferred the matter to the resolution of McGregor's case, which was resolved when the two sides agreed to a lesser punishment.
"He's a phenomenal athlete," Bennett said. "He's arguably one of the best strikers from the UFC. He's in great shape; he's hardcore, he trains hard, fights hard.
"Mayweather is arguably one of the best fighters of all time because he doesn't believe in getting hit. But let's not forget Floyd (will be) 40, and Conor is 28, so it'd make for a great fight."
On Wednesday, UFC President Dana White announced he'd struck a deal with McGregor for a potential fight with Mayweather. But that's just one half of the work. White needs to work things out with Mayweather and his representatives, which hasn't always looked promising.
Just today, Mayweather shot down a question about his side of the deal while appearing at a press conference in London for a boxing match between Gervonta Davis and Liam Walsh.
McGregor, the proud father of a newborn son, feels confident it can get done as long as Mayweather and his business representatives can put pen to paper.
"It is an honor to sign this record-breaking deal alongside my partners Zuffa LLC, The Ultimate Fighting Championship and Paradigm Sports Management," McGregor said in a statement. "The first, and most important part of this historic contract has now officially been signed off on. Congratulations to all parties involved.
"We now await Al Haymon and his boxer's signature in the coming days."
White, on the other hand, is hedging a little more on the outcome of negotiations.
"I'm not saying the fight will happen," he said. "I got one side done; now it's time to work on the other. If we can come to a deal with (Mayweather adviser Al) Haymon and Mayweather, the fight's going to happen."
