Floyd Mayweather ready to box Khabib Nurmagomedov

Floyd Mayweather is ready for a massive payday when he enters the ring against mixed martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov. Fresh off his UFC victory over controversial MMA star Conor McGregor, Mayweather challenged Nurmagomedov in the boxing ring. The boxer versus MMA fighter routine may be stale already to some, especially after Mayweather defeated McGregor in August 2017 in a boxing match that saw the pair earn a combined $400 million. With Nurmagomedov and McGregor's antics after their recent fight and Mayweather now getting involved, fight fans will be forgiven for thinking this is a WWE storyline. If Mayweather versus Nurmagomedov does happen, fans will be able to use the bonus code to wager on the action.

Mayweather versus Nurmagomedov

On October 17, Mayweather insisted his bout with Nurmagomedov will be in a boxing ring. The fight will apparently only take place with boxing rules as Mayweather’s chances in a mixed martial arts match would be slim. Genting gives boxing fans plenty of chances to win and bet on the games they love.

Mayweather was asked about the proposed fight and the former two-time Fighter of the Year responded positively about the bout.

"Oh, we're fighting. I'm my own boss. I can't say what's going on on Khabib's end, but on my end, we can make it happen,” Mayweather explained.

Mayweather stressed during his recent interview that any bout would be between the ropes. He also talked about the lucrative financial aspect of a match against Nurmagomedov. The Russian fighter is now 27-0 in the octagon.

Would Mayweather and Nurmagomedov draw money?

One of the biggest questions surrounding a Mayweather-Nurmagomedov boxing match is whether it would draw money. According to sources, Mayweather believes there is no problem with the pair outdoing the crossover fight that occurred in 2017.

"When I face Khabib, I'm getting a nine-figure payday," Mayweather said about the financials. "More than the McGregor fight. Probably $100 million more, guaranteed. It could be somewhere upwards of $110m to $200m guaranteed."

However, there are some very real problems with Mayweather’s predictions of money. MMA and boxing fans have already seen a crossover fight. Mayweather and McGregor drew 4.3 million United States pay-per-view buys. It attracted hardcore and casual fight fans, and it even drew people solely interested in seeing the spectacle of the crossover event. A rematch between Mayweather and McGregor would have come close to the original numbers, but a fight between the former and another MMA fighter will not. The buildup won’t be able to match Mayweather versus McGregor, nor will the excitement.

In addition, Nurmagomedov does not have the cache and crossover mainstream appeal that McGregor has with casual and non-fans. While UFC fans know about Nurmagomedov and his abilities, he lacks the star quality McGregor possess. For the most part, many of the casual and non-UFC fans that tuned into the 2017 fight did so thanks to McGregor’s gift of gab. He literally talked people into watching the fight and that is something Nurmagomedov cannot do.

Will Nurmagomedov be suspended?

Following Nurmagomedov’s win over McGregor, the Russian fighter leapt onto his opponent in the crowd and started a mass riot. There is a chance Nurmagomedov will face further disciplinary action from the Nevada State Athletic Commision.

While both Nurmagomedov and Mayweather are up for a boxing bout, it could come down to the NCSA’s decision on punishment for the melee. There is also Nurmagomedov’s status with the UFC. Many of his technical team and entourage traded blows with McGregor and others during the ridiculous scenes at UFC 229. Nurmagomedov has already stated he would leave UFC if any of his team had their contracts terminated. The fight organization has now been held over a barrel by Nurmagomedov as the UFC needs him more than he needs them.

Of course, there is still the possibility of a rematch between Nurmagomedov and McGregor. The pair and their camps continue to send shots back and forth. Currently, Nurmagomedov is still awaiting his $2m purse from UFC 229. Due to his money being withheld, Nurmagomedov is ready to fight Mayweather, but in another city.

While Mayweather and Nurmagomedov are ready to fight, the rest of the world may not be quite so keen.