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Mayweather says accepted McGregor fight as fans wanted it

Mayweather says accepted McGregor fight as fans wanted it

By REUTERS

May 8, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Floyd Mayweather Jr. in attendance as the Houston Rockets play against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

LAS VEGAS: Boxer Floyd Mayweather agreed to a crossover fight with mixed martial arts champions Conor McGregor because his fans wanted it, the 40-year-old has said. Mayweather, who retired in 2015 with an unbeaten record of 49-0, and UFC lightweight champion McGregor will clash in a 12-round fight in Las Vegas on August 26 after teasing the event for nearly a year. 'McGregor is a tough competitor. People all around the world demanded this fight so I had to give them what they wanted to see,' Mayweather is quoted as saying by sports website BlackSportsOnline.com. 'They asked for this fight. I was in retirement, but they wanted me back and I'm back.' The multi-division boxing world champion is favourite to beat McGregor, who never boxed professionally, in Las Vegas.