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      UFC chief Dana White claimed rapper 50 Cent kick-started negotiations for Conor McGregor’s fight with Floyd Mayweather

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      RAPPER 50 Cent kick-started the negotiations for Floyd Mayweather to fight UFC legend Conor McGregor.The two mavericks met in a blockbuster crossover bout in August 2017, with Money Mayweather winning by 10th round stoppage.
      50 Cent kick-started the negotiations for Floyd Mayweather to fight Conor McGregorCredit: Getty – Contributor
      UFC boss Dana White helped promote the 2017 crossover eventCredit: USA TODAY Sports
      It marked an end to months of build-up and trash-talking between the pair, with the event gripping both fighting codes.
      But UFC president Dana White revealed a chance meeting with 50 Cent – a long-time friend of Mayweather’s – was the catalyst for the super-fight taking place.
      White told ESPN: “When the demand is there. I felt the demand for McGregor vs Mayweather, felt it, I knew it would be big, so we started talking.
      “I bumped into 50 Cent in New York, and he said, ‘Floyd wants to fight your boy.’ I said, ‘My boy who?’
      “He’s like, ‘The Irish kid.’ And I’m like, ‘He’ll kill him,’ because I’m thinking MMA.
      “He said, ‘We’ll box him.’ I said, ‘You guys are crazy.’
      “He said, ‘He’s serious. I’ll call him right now.’

      “And then that’s how it all really got started. And then everywhere I went, it was all anybody asked me about.
      “Then once I started to really feel it, that’s when I started to take it serious, and I made an offer.”
      After Mayweather beat McGregor on the Irishman’s boxing debut he officially retired from the sport.
      He returned at the end of 2018 for an exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo.
      The now 46-year-old announced he was ‘coming out of retirement in 2020’ to work on a ‘spectacular event’ with White in 2021.
      UFC boss White revealed: “We both started talking. The easiest way to explain it to you is Floyd and I both feel that we add value to each other, and we’re going to figure something out.
      “Some things have to play out, and then I’m going to start talking to [Mayweather’s advisor Al] Haymon maybe this summer and then I’ll have something for Floyd in the fall.
      “We can do some crossover stuff here or we can do something in boxing.
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      “Our last experience, Floyd was actually pretty easy to deal with. Haymon is incredible to deal with.
      “Floyd and I got a handshake deal at the basketball game, and we’ll get the rest figured out.”
      However, since that claiom Mayweather has fought exhibitions against Logan Paul, Don Moore, Mikuru Asakura, Deji Olatunji and most recently Aaron Chalmers at the O2 Arena in London.
      Mayweather claimed he is coming out of retirement to work with WhiteCredit: Splash News More

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      Muhammad Ali’s grandson follows in footsteps as MMA star debuts in Las Vegas over 40 years after icon’s last title fight

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      BIAGGIO ALI WALSH debuts in Las Vegas over 40 years after his grandad’s last title fight – and does so ready to leave a mark of his own.The lightweight amateur MMA prospect, 24, heads into his second bout with the Professional Fighters League on Friday.
      Biaggio Ali Walsh is the grandson of Muhammad Ali
      Muhammad Ali lost to Larry Holmes in 1980Credit: Getty – Contributor
      But it will be his first in Vegas, where his grandfather Muhammad Ali found so much success.
      It was at the Caesars Palace in 1980 that Ali last challenged for the heavyweight title – losing to Larry Holmes.
      And over four decades later, grandson Biaggio works security shifts at the famous hotel, daydreaming of following in his grandad’s footsteps.
      He said: “I work at Caesars Palace, I work at one of the nightclubs out there.
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      “When I’m there, sometimes it crosses my mind like, ‘Wow, my grandfather fought here. It’s a very historical place in the boxing world.
      “Sometimes I do feel that. Vegas is obviously the fight capital of the world, it’s my hometown, it’s where I grew up.
      “I was born in Chicago but I moved here when I was six. So I grew up here in Vegas and to be able to fight in Vegas is awesome.
      “I didn’t think it would come this soon, I thought to myself, ‘When can I fight in Vegas? When can my friends and my local co-workers even come to my fights?’
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      “And it’s happening now, so I’m super grateful, super blessed that I get to have this opportunity so soon.”
      Biaggio – whose 22-year-old brother Nico is an unbeaten boxer – signed to the PFL last year.
      The promotion is MMA’s only seasonal format, consisting of qualification and knockout rounds.
      Points are earned per method of victory and the top four in each division progress into the last four stages.
      From there it is win-or-go-home, culminating in a finale fight with a $1million cheque and title belt on the line.
      Biaggio, not yet a professional, has hopes to one day enter the league but for now focuses on justifying his prime-time undercard spot.
      He said: “There’s a lot of pro fighters that don’t get this kind of opportunity.
      “So yeah, of course that pressure is there but I am looking to show people that I do have talent, I am born for this.
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      “So yeah, I do have something to prove but what makes diamonds is pressure. So bring on all the pressure in the world, I don’t care.”
      Biaggio Ali Walsh with Muhammad Ali
      Biaggio Ali Walsh is signed by the PFLCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Eddie Hearn reveals all over his secret Conor McGregor talks with UFC legend at Black Forge pub

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      EDDIE HEARN has opened up on his recent meeting with Conor McGregor – which he’s likened to a “press conference”.The Matchroom Boxing chief meet with McGregor in February to discuss the MMA superstar potentially being involved in Katie Taylor’s long-awaited homecoming in Ireland.
      Eddie Hearn met with UFC superstar Conor McGregor in Dublin in FebruaryCredit: INSTAGRAM@EDDIEHEARN
      McGregor met with Hearn to discuss how he can be involved in Katie Taylor’s homecomingCredit: SPORTSFILE
      Hearn was blown away by is lunch with The NotoriousCredit: Rex
      The meeting took place at McGregor’s Black Forge Inn pub in Dublin, where Hearn was blown away by the UFC’s poster boy.
      During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: “I know everyone’s got their opinion. I always take people how I see them, right?
      “So you hear this, you hear that, you hear this, you hear that.
      “I had [lunch with McGregor] — I don’t know how long it was, an hour-and-a-half, two hours — just the funniest time.
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      “I love great energy, and this guy is just a pure character. It was like being at a press conference.
      “He comes in, and just the energy and the enthusiasm — that’s one thing that I took out of is, you know that in boxing, and this obviously sits alongside MMA as well, you fall in love with the sport.”
      A fired-up McGregor spent most of their meeting standing up and even ordered a steak while he was on his feet.
      Hearn continued: “He is so passionate about boxing, about mixed martial arts — he wouldn’t sit down.
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      “He’s ordered a steak, he’s standing up, he’s showing me how he’d fight this guy and how fight that guy, and he’s telling me about the Nate Diaz fight, when he’s on his back and he’s got a bad knee.
      “It’s like a million miles an hour. But he’s like, ‘We should do this, we should do that.
      “‘Let’s do this. Let’s make it happen.’
      “I love him. I think he’s such a character. In life, you want to be around people where you go, ‘I’ll never forget you.’
      “I’ll never forget that moment with Conor McGregor.”
      McGregor, 34, has been accused by some of piggybacking on Taylor and trying to improve his image by helping facilitate her return to the Emerald Isle.

      But Hearn insists The Notorious genuinely has Taylor’s best interests at heart.
      The 43-year-old said: “I know that there is an element to everything that everybody does about publicity and exposure, but he has a genuine passion for Katie.
      “He loves Katie Taylor. He thinks she’s amazing.
      “She’s a hero in that country, and he wanted to help make it happen for her, for Ireland as well.
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      “And I’m sure he gets [bad press], because everybody does when they reach those kinds of heights, but I had a great time. I really did.”
      McGregor is set to return to the UFC later this year for a blockbuster showdown with Michael Chandler – although a date for their clash has yet to be finalised. More

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      Jake Paul’s loss to Tommy Fury WON’T affect MMA debut with YouTube star in training and in talks for opponent with PFL

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      JAKE PAUL’S loss to Tommy Fury will NOT affect his MMA debut with the Professional Fighters League. The YouTuber-turned boxer suffered defeat for the first time in his career in February via split-decision in Saudi Arabia. 
      Tommy Fury beat Jake Paul on pointsCredit: Getty
      Just a month beforehand, Paul, 26, had announced his deal with the PFL, which will see him in both a promotional and fighter role. 
      He looks set to rematch Fury, 23, in the ring this year, but PFL CEO Peter Murray insisted it will not slow down his MMA debut. 
      Murray told SunSport: “Jake’s an incredible competitor and it was a great fight. 
      “But as it relates to MMA, Jake is training in the PFL SmartCage, he’s got his own setup and we’re excited about his focus on MMA.

      “More to come on those details and his debut in MMA but full board, we’re really excited for his debut.” 
      The PFL is MMA’s only seasonal format, consisting of qualifying and knockout stages. 
      Points are earned per method of victory in the opening two bouts with the top four in each division progressing into the semi-finals. 
      From there, it is victory-or-go-home culminating in a winner-take-all finale fight where a title belt and $1m cash prize lays in wait. 
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      But Paul – who wrestled in high school – announced he will head up a new “super-fight” league, away from the regular season
      The American has already began training for his MMA switch with talks for an opponent also ongoing for his PFL debut which is set for 2024.
      Murray said: “From a planning standpoint of course, we’re having a number of conversations regarding, first and foremost, timing and opponent. 
      “The opponent being the number one topic of conversation but we build around that.”  
      Jake Paul training for his MMA debutCredit: @jakepaul More

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      Logan Paul calls out Tyson Fury for CAGE FIGHT and says he would ‘choke out’ boxing world champion

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      LOGAN PAUL has sensationally called out Tyson Fury for a CAGE FIGHT.YouTuber-turned-Wrestler Paul starred in Wrestlemania 39 on Saturday, facing off against Seth Rollins.
      Logan Paul has called out Tyson Fury for an MMA fightCredit: Splash
      The Gypsy King has weighed up MMA beforeCredit: AFP
      Paul’s brother Jake was recently on the receiving end of a defeat by Tommy Fury, but Logan now wants to get revenge by taking on boxing champ Tyson.
      However, rather than in a boxing ring, Paul wants to face Fury in the Octagon.
      Speaking to BT Sport, he said: “You know what I would do because I saw Tyson talking s***?
      “I would fight Tyson in a MMA fight.
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      “I really would, I don’t really care how big he is if you have not wrestled or done any ground work I don’t care how big you are, you better land the first two punches that you throw and they better knock me out.
      “Otherwise I’m taking you to the ground, I’m taking your back and I’m choking you out.”
      Fury himself has teased switching into the MMA.
      The 34-year-old trained with Darren Till during the build-up to his rematch with Deontay Wilder, while he also told Francis Ngannou he would box him in 4oz MMA gloves inside of a cage.
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      Paul’s one and only pro boxing fight resulted in defeat to KSI – now his business partner for their PRIME drink – who made a special appearance at Wrestlemania.
      The Brit was wearing a PRIME outfit, and attempted to help Paul complete a Frogsplash on Rollins, before he was dragged onto the table for Paul to smash into instead.
      Paul also competed in an exhibition bout against Floyd Mayweather, which Money convincingly won.
      However, this did not stop Paul from declaring he would “knock out” Fury after his brother defeated Tommy, though Jake beating the ex-Love Island star never came to pass.
      The Gypsy King has not been a silent party against Paul either.
      Speaking weeks after Tommy beat Jake, he said: “Logan Paul, you little b****.
      “It seems that my little brother beat your little brother and now you’re both a pair of losers. All the Paul family suck.”
      It comes after talks for Fury’s heavyweight unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk fell through, despite Usyk agreeing to a 70-30 split.
      However, Anthony Joshua now seems to have Fury in his sights once again following his unanimous points win over Jermaine Franklin.
      AJ, 33, said: “Save all that s***. If we’ll f***ing fight, let’s go.
      “Shut the f*** up and that’s just how I feel because I got to save my energy for the fight.
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      “I’ll be real, I’ll be real. I respect the man. He’s achieved a lot.
      “I just feel I don’t need to trash talk, verbally trash talk someone to make myself feel better.” More

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      Conor McGregor ramps up feud with Carl Froch and George Groves and says he would ‘slaughter them at the same time’

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      CONOR McGREGOR ramped up his feud by Carl Froch after saying he would “slaughter” him and George Groves in the cage. The pair have rowed in the past but Froch took it one step further when he claimed he had the beating of the ex-UFC champion in the cage.
      George Groves and old opponent Carl Froch
      Conor McGregor threatened Carl Froch and George GrovesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He said on his YouTube channel: “I’d fight Conor McGregor in the cage.
      “I could be getting myself in trouble here or into a position I can’t wiggle out of, but I think I’d take him on in the cage. He’s too small.”
      McGregor hit back with a laughing face and tweeted promoter Eddie Hearn: “Get this signed up lad.”
      The Irishman then menacingly followed it up days later by adding: “I’ll slaughter Froch and Grove at the same time in the cage.”
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      McGregor, 34, has boxed professionally just once before, losing to American legend Floyd Mayweather, 45, in 2017.
      Froch, 45, commentated that night and was full of criticism for McGregor.
      And the former featherweight and lightweight UFC champ fired back last year in a furious rant about Froch.
      McGregor tweeted: “I’ll grab his head and twist it clean off at a 1er with my bare hands.
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      “Little wally of a thing I’ll slap you around you little toffee nose toss pot.”
      Froch – who retired from boxing in 2014 after knocking out Groves – insisted it would be a mismatch if the two were to fight in the ring.
      He told Boxing UK: “He’s not a boxer, he doesn’t want to fight me, he’d get absolutely f***** up, but he might do the same to me in the cage and that is why we are both champion in our own right.
      “He knows, if he wants a roll around, he knows where to come, but he ain’t going to want this smoke.”
      Carl Froch retired after knocking out George GrovesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      Floyd Mayweather’s beloved assistant dies aged 47 as family pay tribute

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      BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather’s long-time assistant has passed away suddenly.Marikit “Kitchie” Laurico died at age 47 after a relationship with boxing legend Mayweather for decades.
      Marikit was only 47 when she passed awayCredit: Twitter
      The long time family friend and assistant died suddenly after holidayCredit: Instagram
      The boxer’s family has expressed their grief over her deathCredit: PA
      Some reports claim she was feeling ill after a recent trip to Dubai, but recent posts seem to indicate she was on the mend.
      The cause of her death has not been confirmed, though some reports claim it was a heart attack.
      Mayweather’s daughter posted a tribute to the late Marikit, saying: “This doesn’t feel real… my heart is so heavy. You were more than just my dad’s assistant you were family.
      “You were the definition of someone with a good heart, you always lifted people up and made them feel good about themselves.

      “There’s no one like you will truly be missed, love you forever.”
      Last month, Conor McGregor announced he wanted a rematch with Mayweather in the MMA.
      McGregor put his UFC career on hold in 2017 to cross over to the boxing world for a money-spinning bout with the American legend.
      During their heated press tour, Mayweather boldly stated he would return the favour for a rematch in the cage.
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      So far, the promise has not been kept after McGregor was beaten in ten rounds in the ring.
      Now, approaching six years on, the Irishman, 34, wants another shot at Mayweather, 46.
      McGregor said on Fox News: “That was the original, it was a verbal agreement, I box him, he fights me. But he didn’t honour it.
      She told a friend she wasn’t feeling well a few days before her deathCredit: Instagram
      The boxer’s family is heartbrokenCredit: Instagram More

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      Jake Paul exchanges Instagram messages with PFL star Brendan Loughnane after being urged to fight Nate Diaz in MMA debut

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      JAKE PAUL has been urged to fight Nate Diaz in his MMA debut by Brendan Loughnane after the pair exchanged Instagram messages. Paul signed with the Professional Fighters League this year and will take on a promotional role while also competing in the cage. 
      Jake Paul is signed with PFLCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The YouTuber-turned boxer will head up a new “super-fight” series, away from the PFL’s usual regular season. 
      That consists of qualifying and knockout stages, where points are earned per method of victory in the opening two bouts.
      The top four in each weight then progress into the victory-or-go-home stage.
      It sets up a winner-take-all finale fight where a title belt and $1million cash prize lays in wait. 
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      Britain’s Loughnane went all the way last year and returns this season defending his featherweight crown and eyeing another cash prize. 
      And he has the backing of Paul, after the pair exchanged DMs on social media. 
      Loughnane told ESPN: “I like Jake. Me and Jake have been conversating since he took PFL stakes.
      “He must have realised who I was then. He added me on Instagram, we’ve been talking back and forth.
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      “Jake’s a cool guy. I’m glad he’s bringing more eyes to the PFL. Keep them all coming.”
      Loughnane, 33, kicks off his 2023 campaign on Saturday in Las Vegas against ex-UFC title challenger Marlos Moraes, 34. 
      Meanwhile Paul, 26, is coming off his first career loss following a split-decision defeat to Tommy Fury, 23, in Febuary. 
      The pair look set to rematch following the success of their pay-per-view blockbuster in Saudi Arabia. 
      And it could further backdate Paul’s impending debut in the PFL cage but Loughnane wants to see him face Nate Diaz, 37, in a two-fight deal. 
      He said: “Here’s what I want. I want them to fight in boxing, and then I want them to rematch in PFL. Exciting times. Let’s put it that way.”
      PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane More