McGregor says rematch with Mayweather ‘is going to happen’ and UFC star predicts he will win boxing superfight next time

CONOR McGREGOR is certain that he and Floyd Mayweather will have a rematch in the boxing ring.

‘The Notorious’ crossed codes from the Octagon to the boxing ring in 2017 when he took on undefeated Mayweather.

And despite suffering a 10th round TKO defeat the Irish UFC superstar feels he was ‘phenomenal’ in that bout and claimed he would win a rematch.

McGregor, 31, marks his return to the octagon by facing Cerrone on January 18 as he fights for the first time since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018.

But he is already looking ahead to a possible rematch with Mayweather, and claims he would win this time.

He told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani: ” I would like to rematch Floyd. I did phenomenal in that [first] bout.

“The only reason I lost that fight was because I prepared for a back-footed Philly shell style of opponent.

It was a great, great experience and I look forward to doing it again. It will happen, it’s going to happen again

Conor McGregor on fighting Floyd Mayweather

“And when the fight was like that I was picking him apart.

“Then he came forward and he started pressing and I wasn’t sinking into my shots like I am now with my boxing coaches.

‘GOOD REMATCH’

“I know I’d beat Floyd if we rematched and when we rematch.

“He’s not going to do an MMA bout like he said. It was supposed to be me boxing and then we’d do a mixed martial arts bout.

“That was what was said and out of his mouth as well.

“It was not written but it was a verbal agreement. Obviously that’s not going to happen and I’m not even going to push him on that either.

“I would like to box him and I think that would be a good rematch.

“You never know. They’re good people to do business with the Showtime people and Floyd, you never know.”

‘FULLY FOCUSED’

Their fight in August 2017 was the most lucrative in boxing history, worth £700million.

McGregor raked in around £100m in total earnings, while Mayweather banked £230m.

A rematch is likely to be just as profitable – and McGregor believes he would come out on top.

He said: “In the Mayweather build up I had ten weeks to prepare for that and before that I was out messing around.

“Now I’m fully focused so we’ll see what happens.

“It was great to fight Floyd, great to to be in there with him. He’s truly crafty.

“It was a great, great experience and I look forward to doing it again.

“It will happen, it’s going to happen again.”

McGregor has brought in his former boxing coach Phil Sutcliffe as part of his camp for his fight against Donald Cerrone this weekend.

The Irish fighter is stepping inside the Octagon for his first fight in over a year when he faces the veteran American at UFC 246 on Saturday night.

The Notorious has been allowed to make his comeback at welterweight to avoid a gruelling weight cut.

McGregor has twice fought at the 170lbs limit, in 2016 losing to Nate Diaz before winning the rematch, while ‘Cowboy’ has had 11 bouts at the division.