Conor McGregor UFC news 2017: Floyd Mayweather offers McGregor $15 million to fight in a boxing match

The verbal sparring between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion Conor McGregor and undefeated boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been going on for some time now. McGregor obviously has the advantage in a mixed martial arts (MMA) fight, but he also believes he can knock Mayweather out under boxing rules. Since he was given a boxing license in California last month, people have been saying that a fight between the two was getting closer to reality. And it looks like Mayweather is more than willing to face McGregor in a boxing match.

In an interview with ESPN, Mayweather revealed that he would offer McGregor $15 million to step into the ring with him.

"We are willing to give him $15 million and then we can talk about splitting the percentage — the back end — on the pay-per-view. But of course, we're the 'A side.' How can a guy talk about making 20 or 30 million if he has never made 8 or 9 million in a fight," he said.

Of course, Mayweather wants much more than the figure he's willing to give to McGregor. He said he wants a guaranteed $100 million for the fight. "They know what my number is. My number is a guaranteed $100 million. That was my number," he stated.

A few months ago, McGregor told some fans at a nightclub that he would only fight Mayweather in a boxing ring if he was offered $100 million. It appears that Mayweather wants that figure as well.

British pro boxer Amir Khan believes that the fight could happen. However, he thinks it will be a one-sided fight with Mayweather emerging as the clear winner.

On the other hand, sports journalist Skip Bayless said Mayweather was obviously afraid of facing McGregor in the boxing ring, that's why he decided to offer his opponent a modest amount compared to his $100 million. "He is afraid of Conor McGregor," Bayless said on a recent episode of FOX Sports' Undisputed.

Right now, this is the fight that people want to see. But both sides will have to come to an agreement first before anything can happen.