Conor McGregor challenges Floyd Mayweather to 'billion-dollar' boxing fight, saying: 'Come at me'

'I am open minded, I am open to discussion, I love competition,' McGregor said

Conor McGregor has talked up the prospect of fighting Floyd Mayweather (Getty Images)

UFC star Conor McGregor has said he is open to the possibility of facing Floyd Mayweather in a "billion-dollar" boxing bout.

MMA poster-boy McGregor and Mayweather, who retired with an unbeaten record of 49-0 last year, have been engaged in quite the war of words in recent years.

When asked about the prospect of a potential super-fight against Mayweather under boxing rules, McGregor said in an interview with Gareth A Davies on BT Sport: “I’m open to discussions, come at me. But I hold the key and it’s me who holds the key to the fight game.

"I am open minded, I am open to discussion, I love competition, I love fighting. It would be nice to make that fight if the fans were interested and wanted to see it.”

It was then put to McGregor that any contest between the pair would be a “billion-dollar fight,” to which the Irishman, known as The Notorious, responded: “I’m all about those numbers, Gareth, so I would definitely do that, no problem.”

UFC featherweight champion McGregor takes on Nate Diaz on Saturday at UFC 196 in his first fight at welterweight.