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Floyd Mayweather intended to challenge Conor McGregor once again in 2019.
In an interview with Sportsmail, Mayweather stated that negotiations for a rematch between himself and McGregor in boxing are in progress. In one of the all-time top combat sports pay-per-views, the two squared off in August 2017. In Round 10, Mayweather knocked out McGregor via TKO.
This Saturday at the Super RIZIN event in Saitama, Mayweather, 45, will compete in an exhibition boxing match against Japanese MMA star Mikuru Asakura. He then intends to face McGregor in 2023.
“I want to go out there this weekend and have fun,” Mayweather said. “Then I have another exhibition in Dubai in November and me and Conor McGregor in 2023.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be an exhibition or a real fight. But there’s been talks of both. I would prefer an exhibition.”
The first meeting between Mayweather and McGregor was a competitive fight, putting the unbeaten boxing icon against a two-division UFC champion who had just won the lightweight championship by stunningly knocking out Eddie Alvarez. After defeating McGregor to raise his record to 50-0, Mayweather retired and has since only competed in demonstration bouts, including one for RIZIN in which he easily dispatched kickboxing icon Tenshin Nasukawa.
After retiring, Mayweather enjoys exhibitions much more.
“I am not into fights where I am going to take any real punishment,” Mayweather added. “So, guys like Conor McGregor and guys that don’t really hit hard such as YouTubers or UFC guys, I don’t really mind colliding with those kinds of individuals but nothing where I am going to put myself in a position where I am going to harm myself or hurt myself.”
Since their initial fight, there have been intermittent discussions of a rematch between Mayweather and McGregor, with each side taking public jabs at the other. When McGregor does fight again, it "will be in the cage," according to UFC President Dana White, who recently shut down speculations that the rematch could materialize anytime soon.
In response, McGregor posted a picture from his bout with Mayweather on Instagram along with the caption "not interested."