With the undercard for the Aug. 26th bout between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather now finalised, Conor McGregor’s manager Audie Attar of Paradigm Sports Management has revealed that tentative discussions took place to explore if Ireland’s undefeated boxer Katie Taylor could be booked to appear in the momentous card in Las Vegas later this month.
Taylor, one of Ireland’s most popular athletes, is 6-0 in the professional ranks since her debut last November and owns one of the most impressive amateur records in all of boxing. The former four-time world amateur champion, five-time European champ and one-time Olympic gold medalist is tipped to win her first professional world title before long — but the next time she steps inside the squared circle won’t be on her countryman McGregor’s undercard in less than two weeks time.
Speaking to MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani, Attar confirmed that discussions took place but ultimately a deal couldn’t be struck with Taylor, who is represented by Matchroom Boxing.
“We had some brief conversations but it’s a Mayweather Promotions undercard, so it didn’t necessarily match with it,” Attar said. “At one point I even heard talk of Katie Taylor and I was like, ‘amazing!’ because that would sell.”
“But I think fair play to them, they still have a promotion they have got to run. It’s a boxing match, so the undercard is Mayweather Promotions boxing bouts that they have matched up ahead of the big one.”
The undercard currently features bouts between Gervonta Davis vs. Francisco Fonseca, Nathan Cleverly vs. Badou Jack and Shawn Porter vs. Thomas Dulorme.
The next issue to be determined ahead of the fight is the glove size that both pugilists will wear. The 154-pound weight limit mandates the use of 10-oz gloves, though both camps have tentatively agreed to downgrade those to 8-oz. MMA gloves are typically 4-oz.
A hearing with be conducted by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Aug. 16th to determine if they will allow the lighter gloves.
“If both camps want it, why not?” Attar concluded. “That’s what it comes down to and I think that just adds another element of excitement to this thing. If [Floyd] comes in an engages, there’s going to be fireworks. I know Conor’s going to come and he’s definitely going to engage.
“I like it. I’m excited. The commission has been great and they’re the leaders in the world in terms of boxing and combat sports. I hope that they consider it, I hope that they realise that both camps want it. Let them fight.”
