Conor McGregor’s bid for boxing license hits a snag
UFC superstar Conor McGregor’s march to the ring against Floyd Mayweather continues to pick up speed after he applied for a professional boxing license in the state of Nevada, according to ESPN.
The news comes one day after McGregor said he had agreed to terms with the UFC for a potential boxing megabout against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather.
Nevertheless, Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett said McGregor’s application was incomplete because of missing medical documents and won’t be reviewed until those are provided.
“Conor is intimately familiar with our licensing procedures, having fought here multiple times for the UFC,” Bennett told ESPN. “When he has time, and all sides have come to a contractual agreement, I’m sure he will fulfill our requirements and we look forward to having him fight in Nevada.”
All of which could happen soon.
Earlier this week, UFC president Dana White had said with McGregor’s camp coming to an agreement, his focus had shifted to working out a deal with Mayweather in the coming weeks.
Though the bout remains far from a sure thing — Mayweather’s camp could fail to come to a deal with the UFC or the NSAC can reject McGregor’s request for a boxing license — it certainly is inching closer than most previously thought.
McGregor, the UFC’s 28-year-old star, holds a 21-3 record inside the Octagon, and was the first member of the promotion to hold title belts in two weight classes simultaneously after his second-round knockout of Eddie Alvarez in November.
But Mayweather is arguably the greatest boxer in history, compiling a 49-0 record with 26 knockouts while driving opponents crazy with his quick hands and feet.
Though Mayweather has the experience, it’s McGregor’s reach advantage — two inches — that makes a possible bout more intriguing.
“McGregor is younger, taller, has a long reach and most of his wins in MMA have come by knockout, which shows he’s a talented striker,” Bennett said. “I think both are phenomenal fighters with exceptional skills.”