Two of the biggest athletes in their respective careers are now clashing over a very sensitive issue: racism. Undefeated boxing icon Floyd Mayweather, Jr earned the ire of the new UFC Featherweight division champ Conor McGregor. In an interview with a magazine, Money pointed out that racism remains rampant in the world of sports up to this day. To bolster his accusations, Mayweather used McGregor as an example. Apart from the UFC champ, Money also used Ronda Rousey to illustrate his point.
When the interview was made public, McGregor refused to take Mayweather's comments lying down. Taking his retaliation to social media, the Irish man informed the American boxer of his ordeals as well as the struggles of the McGregor clan. He then warned Mayweather not to utter the same words regarding his race.
"Floyd Mayweather, don't ever bring race into my success again," said McGregor in an Instagram post. The UFC champ added, "I am an Irishman. My people have been oppressed our entire existence. And still very much are. I understand the feeling of prejudice. It is a feeling that is deep in my blood. In my family's long history of warfare there was a time where just having the name 'McGregor' was punishable by death."Do not ever put me in a bracket like this again."
Apart from sending a warning to Mayweather, McGregor even went on to challenge the boxing champ. The Irishman, in his typical fashion, also pointed out that his proposed fight should see him earn more than the American boxer. Citing Mayweather's age as a disadvantage, McGregor said that his status in the MMA will provide their perceived face off with more fanfare.
"If you want we can organise a fight no problem," said McGregor to Mayweather, according to MMA Fighting. The UFC champ went on to share, "I will give you a fair 80/20 split purse in my favour seen as your last fight bombed at every area of revenue. At 27 years of age, I now hold the key to this game. The game answers to me now."
The issue stemmed from Mayweather's interview with Fight Hype. Lamenting the differences in people's reactions over his trash talking ways and those of McGregor, the boxer cited racism as the factor to blame. He said, "And what's so crazy, I don't really know the McGregor guy; never seen him fight."
"I heard his name actually from one of the runners that works for our company. He told me about the guy McGregor. They say he talk a lot of trash and people praise him for it, but when I did it, they say I'm cocky and arrogant," Mayweather said. He added, "So biased! Like I said before, all I'm saying is this, I ain't racist at all, but I'm telling you racism still exists."
