VIDEO | Floyd Mayweather Once Again Discusses Conor McGregor Fight

In March of this year, Conor McGregor was submitted by the long-unheralded Nate Diaz in one of the year’s biggest upsets. Given that McGregor has long stood out as one of the UFC’s biggest stars, the organization quickly began assembling a Diaz-McGregor rematch with the hopes of giving their Irish cash cow a shot at redemption.

Yet it was not as simple as giving McGregor a do-over with Diaz. In the buildup to this fight, which was originally scheduled for the historic UFC 200, McGregor and the UFC butted heads over his media obligations, among other things. This skirmish was severe enough that it drove McGregor into a momentary retirement–though few lasted this retirement to last.

Perhaps the wildest effect of McGregor’s struggle with the UFC, however, is that it led the Irish superstar to consider options outside of MMA: particularly, a career in boxing. From there, it wasn’t long before rumors began to swirl that he was being considered as an opponent for undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather, who was allegedly willing to cut his retirement short for the match.

Once these rumors began to burn, both fighters threw gas on the fire with posts to social media. At one point, it even looked like the bout was a go for September 17.

As we now know, however, this strange but alluring boxing match was never meant to be. McGregor squashed his beef with the UFC, after which he would defeat Diaz in their rematch at UFC 202 – the most successful pay-per-view in the organization’s history.

In a recent interview posted to YouTube by FightHype.com, Floyd Mayweather offered up his thoughts on this prospective bout which, just months ago, was all anyone could talk about. According to the boxing ace, it’s time to bury the idea.

“I tried to make the fight happen between me and Conor McGregor,” Mayweather said. “We wasn’t able to make the fight happen, so we must move on.”

Mayweather also commented on the long list of boxers who have followed in his footsteps with McGregor callouts – including stars like Amir Khan and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

“It’s so crazy that I talk about fighting Conor McGregor, now you’ve got so many other fighters that’s in boxing that want to fight Conor McGregor. But I was the first once again,” Mayweather said. “I feel honored to be the biggest name in MMA and in boxing and I don’t even compete no more.” 

Are you still interested in a McGregor vs. Mayweather boxing match, or are you glad these rumors have been put to bed? Sound off, PENN nation!