Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr says he “will be waiting to punish” Conor McGregor once again should the Irishman come out of retirement.
Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion McGregor (professional MMA record 22-4), who last fought in a first-round TKO win over Donald Cerrone in January, announced his retirement “from fighting” on Saturday.
The 31-year-old later posted a photo on social media of what is presumably his retirement cake and explained to ESPN that he had lost excitement for “the game”.
American legend Mayweather Jnr (professional boxing record 50-0), whose last pro boxing bout was a tenth-round TKO win over McGregor in 2017, commented on McGregor’s post:
“If I’m not mistaken, didn’t you tell Mike Tyson you could beat me if we fought a second time? Now you’re quitting! I thought you wanted to beat the best?” said the 43-year-old Mayweather Jnr, who teased in November last year that he would be making a comeback in combat sports “in 2020”.
“Well, if you decide to come back, I will be waiting to punish you again.”
“Money” Mayweather Jnr was referring to “Notorious” McGregor’s post thanking another boxing legend in Mike Tyson, who complimented McGregor’s efforts in what was his first pro boxing fight.
McGregor vowed to “crack the puzzle” against Mayweather Jnr should a rematch occur. Coincidentally, the 53-year-old Tyson has also expressed interest in coming out of retirement for a charity boxing bout.
The pair have continued their back-and-forth since fighting three years ago, fuelling rumours of a rematch in both the ring and cage. Ironically, McGregor had said earlier this year that Mayweather Jnr was “far from retired” when laying out his plans in MMA. Both fighters have come out of retirement multiple times in the past.
UFC president Dana White, who confirmed he “had a deal” with Mayweather Jnr to fight in an unspecified bout this year, has yet to give an update on the matter. While acknowledging McGregor’s supposed retirement, it is likely that many of this year’s plans have been put on hold due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.