Logan Paul and Conor McGregor
The boxing match between Logan Paul and Conor McGregor feels more real every day. The Mac Life reported a few more details about the rumored exhibition boxing match, and McGregor reposted their report.
According to The Mac Life, McGregor is set to make a whopping $250 million for his efforts. Paul’s expected purse wasn’t mentioned, but it’s reasonable to assume it’s in the same ballpark.
McGregor, a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, hasn’t fought in the Octagon since July 2021, when he was stopped by Dustin Poirier due to an ankle injury. While McGregor is on a two-fight losing streak in the Octagon, he remains the UFC’s biggest draw and most recognizable figure.
Because of his appeal, the UFC has been trying to get McGregor back into the Octagon for the past two years. However, a myriad of complications has kept him out of action. McGregor is now a part-owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and he has expressed an interest in fighting for the promotion.
However, the UFC has typically been resistant to crossover fights with their fighters—with one notable exception made for McGregor in 2017 when he boxed Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather won that fight by tenth-round TKO.
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 26: (R-L) Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a punch at Conor McGregor during their ... [+]
McGregor still has two fights remaining on his contract with the UFC, and his obligations to Dana White and Co. may be what keeps a fight with Paul from happening.
Paul has enjoyed a meteoric rise from YouTuber to professional boxer to WWE Superstar. He too has been in the ring with Mayweather in a boxing match in 2021. Paul has emerged as one of the most influential celebrities/athletes in the world.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JUNE 06: Floyd Mayweather (R) exchanges blows with Logan Paul during their ... [+]
Without Paul’s star power, this potential fight isn’t as big.
The fight is reportedly going to be funded by the Albani Family, one of the richest families in the world. The location is Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, and it would be part of the Visit India tourism campaign.
India is a major market for WWE, with the professional wrestling promotion often touring there. It would not be a shock if the WWE has a tour of India taking place around the same time as the proposed exhibition between Paul and McGregor.
The purse McGregor is rumored to receive is on par with what Mayweather got for fighting the Irishman seven-plus years ago. According to Forbes, Mayweather made $285 million for his fight with McGregor, while the latter took home $130 million.
In November, Jake Paul (Logan’s younger brother) reportedly made $40 million for fighting a 58-year-old Mike Tyson on Netflix in Texas. Tyson reportedly made $20 million, though it’s likely both made even more.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight during LIVE On Netflix: Jake ... [+]
That fight broke viewership records, and its success likely inspired the Logan Paul-McGregor concept.
As expected, fans of MMA and boxing have been critical of this crossover fight. However, those criticisms were present ahead of Paul-Mayweather, McGregor-Mayweather, and Paul-Tyson.
The negative sentiment didn’t seem to hurt the events’ marketability or success. If Paul-McGregor goes through, expect similarly huge numbers.
If the UFC gives the OK, it’s a good bet this fight takes place, and TKO Holdings (the parent company in control of UFC and WWE) will stand to gain from it.
