Morning Report: Floyd Mayweather: ‘Dana White, I remember when you used to carry my bags’

In the never-ending saga of will they or won’t they that is the potential boxing match between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and undefeated boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr., the first real move towards making that a reality occurred when UFC President Dana White put an actual offer on the table last week: $25 million dollars for each Mayweather and McGregor with a split of the pay-per-view White’s offer was not well-received. Mayweather called White “a f**king comedian” for making such a low offer.

Shortly after that statement, White responded in kind saying, “Conor’s been around for three or four years. For him to think that he’s a much bigger star than Conor’s not true and I’m not gonna pay him way more money than I’m gonna pay my guy. We all know $25 million isn’t peanuts and so does he.”

Well backstage at the Baduo Jack-James DeGale fight over the weekend (Jack is signed to Mayweather’s promotion company), Mayweather agreed that $25 million is a lot of money but he explained that it’s not “Mayweather money.”

“The last time I made $25 million - actually I made more - but the last time I made $25 million was 10 years ago,” Mayweather said. “I’m not bragging or boasting I’m just telling the truth. I’m appreciative and thankful, $25 million is still great money. But for the last, I don’t know how many years, my guaranteed lowest was like, 32, a little bit over 32 [million dollars]. In the Canelo [Alvarez] fight I made over $100 million in that fight and just in two fights, [Manny] Pacquiao and Canelo, those two fights, somewhere upwards of $400 million. $400 million or better. Sponsorship money leading up to the Pacquiao fight, that week I made 25 to 30 million [dollars]. So these are my numbers. They can say, ‘Floyd’s lying’ all they want to. If I was so desperate and hurting for money I would come back.”

Mayweather’s career earnings are estimated at over $700 million. His retirement fight against Andre Berto netted him $32 million, a far cry from his top earnings of nearly $250 million for his fight with Manny Pacquiao but still substantially better than McGregor’s $3 million guaranteed purse for his fight at UFC 205 with Eddie Alvarez. Though $25 million plus PPV split would be by far the biggest payday of McGregor’s career, the number is so much lower than Mayweather’s standards, it was viewed by many as a way for White to appear to be serious about making the fight while giving without ever actually intending to.

Whatever the intent, the end result was that Mayweather made it clear he doesn’t want to deal with White in all of this and invoked an old, belittling association between the two of them.

“I don’t want to talk to Dana White,” Mayweather said. “Remember, Dana White, he was a player he was a boss but he was a small boss. The big bosses were the Fertittas. But then the Fertitta’s chose to sell the UFC so Dana is just an employee. Dana White - I like Dana White, I don’t have anything against him - but I can remember Dana White used to hang around me and Jeff Mayweather and carry my bags.

“Dana White, I remember when you used to carry my bags. And remember Dana White, I showed you love. You had the little Bullenbeisser patch I wore on my trunks for you, Dana. I’ve always been good to you. But then all of the sudden he cut his head bald and he’s such a tough guy. He’s such a tough guy.”

White and Mayweather actually have a relationship dating back over 20 years. When Mayweather made the transition into professional boxing after winning bronze in the 1996 Olympic Games, he wore Bullenbeiser Boxing equipment into the ring for his first few pro fights, a fight apparel company owned by Dana White. After four fights, Mayweather moved on to other options and eventually White would leave boxing promotion to manage mixed martial artists before purchasing the UFC in 2001 with childhood friends Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta. The purchase worked out well for White, who became richer than Mayweather when they sold the UFC to WME-IMG for $4 billion last year. Before ending the interview, Mayweather brought up this key point, questioning how White got so rich without ever stepping foot in the ring.

“All I’ve got to say is this, why every time Conor McGregor go out there and fight, Dana White is still an employee but Dana White makes more money than Conor McGregor when McGregor go out there and fight?”

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MUST-READ STORIES

Results. UFC Fight Night: Phoenix happened yesterday and here are the results.

And more. Invicta FC 21 happened on Saturday and here are the results.

Coaching. Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw will coach against each other on TUF 25.

Two belts. Amanda Nunes challenged the winner of Holly Holm vs. Germaine de Randamie for the featherweight championship.

Truth. Khabib Nurmagomedov explained his UFC 205 “truth talk” with Dana White.

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MEDIA STEW

Free fight.

Ain’t nobody talking Conor vs. GGG even though they’re much closer to even weight. Why not?

Tito interview.

Highlights from the first ever LFA. Promotion to watch this year.

Invicta highlights.

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LISTEN UP

Fight Companion.

And another one.

A Tito interview you might have missed.

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TWEETS

Unbelievable. What a legend.

Classy men.

Most famous UFC fan? Other than PEOTUS?

Self-aware and amusing. Goldberg crushed for his first UFC not working for them.

Would watch.

She back.

Gonna be a good build up.

#Motivation.

Speaking of which, Amanda Nunes gets it.

He’s got a point.

Anderson hasn’t won a fight at 185 in four and a half years...

But that won’t stop his fans.

This is some terrifying ish.

Solid graphic.

Funday indeed. Peep Russian Robbie Lawler in the back.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jarod Trice (1-0) vs. Kevin Woltkamp (1-2); Bellator 171, Jan. 27.

Tyrell Fortune (1-0) vs. Will Johnson (0-0); Bellator 171, Jan. 27.

Bruna Ellen (2-1) vs. Carmella James (0-0); Bellator 171, Jan. 27.

Anderson Silva (33-8, 1 NC) vs. Derek Brunson (16-4); UFC 208, Feb. 11.

Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC); Invicta 22, March 25.

Cody Garbrandt (11-0) vs. T.J. Dillashaw (14-3); UFC, TBD.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2004: Chris Leben knocked out Mike Swick at WEC 9 to win the inaugural WEC middleweight championship.

2006: Duane Ludwig recorded the fastest knockout in UFC history when he stopped Jonathan Goulet in six seconds at UFC Fight Night 3. This event also saw Jason Von Flue choke out Alex Karalexis with a shoulder choke that would go on to carry his name in future UFC broadcasts, the Von Flue choke.

2015: Patricio Freire submitted Daniel Straus to retain his featherweight championship at Bellator 132.

2016: Cris Cyborg knocked out Daria Ibragimova to retain her featherweight championship at Invicta 15.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Here’s to hoping BJ retires and does so for good. I’d love to see him on the competitive grappling circuit doing fun BJJ matches.

Take it easy everyone and see y’all tomorrow.

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If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.