Bob Arum reveals obstacle in Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather negotiations

Boxing promoter Bob Arum has continued to be very vocal in regards to a potential Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing match. The Top Rank promoter initially believed that UFC President Dana White was simply using the rumors of a potential superfight to establish his control over McGregor given that McGregor is a UFC employee.

He spoke to TMZ over two months ago, saying:

“He (Dana White) is playing a game. Because Floyd is calling McGregor out, and the point is McGregor has a contract with the UFC, so no fight, even if McGregor wanted, can be done without the UFC so this is Dana White’s way of establishing that point.”

“Floyd can fight a lot of fights, with a lot of fighters for more than $25 million. When he had the contract with Showtime he made over $30 million a fight.”

Now however, with talks progressing in regards to a McGregor-Mayweather showdown, Arum believes that the UFC is impeding on the likeliness of the bout taking place.

He spoke to Fight Hub TV:

“I think the only impediment there is the UFC, because UFC doesn’t treat fighters the same way that boxing promoters do. In other words, UFC fighters get so much less than boxers do. They proposed a deal to Conor that on his share of the purse, they take 50 percent. Now, give me a break.

“If the fight doesn’t happen…not that I think it’s going to be a great fight, because I think Conor fighting Mayweather is not really a fight, if it’s boxing. Conor (is a) great MMA fighter, but hasn’t shown anything in boxing. And Mayweather’s one of the great fighters. But if that fight doesn’t happen, the blame will only be on the UFC.”

Expect a response from UFC President Dana White shortly given his dislike for the promoter.

on 3/24/2017.