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Mayweather's camp: Conor McGregor's boxing license is a 'masterful con job'

Conor McGregor is the only UFC fighter to ever hold two belts simultaneously. (Getty)
Floyd Mayweather isn’t moved by Conor McGregor obtaining a boxing license in California. (Getty)

If nothing else, Conor McGregor is certainly stirring the pot in regards to a rumored boxing match with retired boxer Floyd Mayweather.

The Irishman obtained a license to professionally box in the state of California this week, further fueling speculation that the UFC star is angling toward a fight with Mayweather. McGregor’s agent and the California State Athletic Commission both confirmed with ESPN.

The current UFC lightweight champion is taking a brief hiatus away from the sport as he awaits the birth of his first child in early 2017. But he’s been adamant about fighting Mayweather and has demanded $100 million if the fight were to come to fruition. However, Mayweather remains retired and hasn’t expressed interest in fighting again.

Mayweather recently posted a $100 million check from his blockbuster fight with Manny Pacquiao last May and stated he was “happily retired” in the Instagram post. But that won’t stop McGregor from pursuing the fight. All it has done is drummed up interest and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe told ESPN that it was a “calculated effort to gain more fans.”

“Conor McGregor can say anything he wants to but he has a boss and his name is [UFC president] Dana White,” Ellerbe said. “He is under contract to the UFC and if he wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match he can’t because his bosses wouldn’t allow that to happen.”

Ellerbe went on to say that the new UFC owners wouldn’t risk putting their biggest star in a boxing match with Mayweather.

“The brass [from WME-IMG] who recently purchased the UFC [for $4 billion earlier this year] are very smart people and they would never — and put this in bold caps — let him step into a boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather because everyone knows what the outcome would be. He would get his ass beat from pillar to post.”

Echoing sentiments constantly shared by Mayweather, Ellerbe stated that the retired pound-for-pound king is his own boss and doesn’t have to answer to anybody. Regardless, he commends “Mystic Mac’s” approach to generate interest.

“He’s done a masterful con job to try to trick people that he could actually pull this off,” Ellerbe said. “Nobody is mad but it’s a con job trying to make people think this is real and even mentioning him and TBE in the same breath is disrespectful, completely disrespectful. Isn’t this the same guy who tapped out three fights ago?”

And Ellerbe punctuated his statement by saying that although he respects what McGregor has accomplished, Mayweather has absolutely no interest in fighting him in a boxing match.

“I respect all fighters who step in a ring or the Octagon, but Floyd is in the Bahamas enjoying life. He’s not thinking about Conor McGregor or anyone else.”