- Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather welcomed Khabib Nurmagomedov’s challenge
- UFC lightweight champion beat Conor McGregor and called out American
- Mayweather posted on Instagram and seems keen to take up Khabib’s offer
- ‘Moneyman’ instructed major television networks to get their checkbook out
Floyd Mayweather appears to have accepted the challenge posed to him by UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Khabib threw down the gauntlet in a video addressing ‘Moneyman’ alongside CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe and said: ‘In the jungle there is only one king.’
The retired boxer responded in typical fashion, saying: ‘Let’s make Las Vegas great again,’ and called on the major television networks to get their checkbooks out.
Floyd Mayweather was called out by Khabib Nurmagomedov and seemed accept the challenge
Perhaps his wish to make Las Vegas great again was in reference to the ugly brawl between Khabib and Conor McGregor’s teams following the Russian’s victory over the ‘Notorious’ at UFC 229.
The aftermath of the biggest event in UFC history has been widely condemned with both Khabib and McGregor awaiting further punishment for the melee between both the Irish and Dagestani teams.
Mayweather is never one to pass up the opportunity to set tongues wagging and the prospect of another cross-over mega-fight certainly does that, however implausible it might be.
The 51-0 boxer hung up his gloves after beating McGregor last August but could yet be tempted back into the ring for one more bumper payday.
Khabib’s opening salvo may well have been initiated by Ellerbe and spoken in jest as they met at a boxing event in Russia.
The unbeaten wrestler said: ‘Let’s go Floyd, we have to fight now, 51-0 vs 27-0, two guys who have never lost.
Khabib returned to Russia as the all-conquering hero despite his post-fight antics
‘Because in the jungle there is only one king. Of course I am the king because he cannot drop McGregor but I dropped him easily.’
Mayweather keeps himself in prime condition and has received little damage in his flawless career so there is a slim chance he’d return. The 41-year-old regularly flirts with the idea of a comeback to his 21.6million Instagram followers.
He previously teased the idea of stepping into the octagon but those plans were always going to remain a fantasy.
Mayweather travels the world and works with his businesses having retired from boxing
Even if his desire to lock horns with another MMA star in the squared circle is genuine, there would be major obstacles to Khabib competing.
The 30-year-old is expected to be dealt a lengthy ban for triggering the UFC 229 brawl by leaping over the cage to start a fight with McGregor’s team-mate Dillon Danis.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission are likely to make an example of Khabib so the prospect of ‘making Las Vegas great again’ remains unlikely at this stage.
