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Boxing

23rd Oct 2018

Khabib Nurmagomedov holds talks to have Mayweather fight take place in Moscow

Mayweather would understandably prefer Las Vegas

Darragh Murphy

Not sure Floyd Mayweather is going to agree to this.

Talk continues to intensify around the potential boxing match between Mayweather and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Mayweather sounded convinced that the fight would take place after he was called out by the undefeated Russian earlier this month.

One potential stumbling block in the bout coming to fruition, however, is the location.

Nurmagomedov refuses to fight in Las Vegas after the Nevada State Athletic Commission decided to withhold his $2 million purse pending an investigation into his involvement in the melee which marred the UFC 229 main event, when ‘The Eagle’ submitted Conor McGregor in the fourth round.

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And the undefeated Dagestani has already held talks with the General Secretary of the Russian Boxing Federation, Umar Kremlev, in the hope of having Mayweather vs. Nurmagomedov go down in Moscow.

“We (Nurmagomedov and Kremlev) talked about the fight with Mayweather. We want the fight in Moscow, at the legendary Luzhniki Stadium. We are sure that we will attract 100,000 spectators, and also set a world record for PPV sales,” Khabib wrote on Instagram.

One benefit of the contest taking place in Russia for Nurmagomedov would be the fact that his father, Abdulmanap, would be able to be present.

“But the most important thing is that my father will be in my corner, a visa isn’t needed for Moscow,” Nurmagomedov continued, referencing his father’s inability to obtain a visa for his recent bouts in the United States.

Being the A-side of the fight, as he hastens to remind everyone, Mayweather would be unlikely to agree to fight in enemy territory and the 50-0 boxing great recently told TMZ that he would push for Las Vegas as the location if he decides to dust off his gloves for his second consecutive bout against a reigning UFC lightweight champion.

Mayweather said: “I’ve seen on social media that he put that basically he’ll fight but he doesn’t want to fight in Vegas. Of course, we know that Vegas is the fighting capital and after the fight, you have to conduct yourself like a true professional. Not just in the ring but outside the ring also.

“You must conduct yourself like a professional. It was a big melee. I haven’t had a chance to see it but from what I’ve heard, it was a crazy melee.

“Who’s the A-side? He called me out so he’s got to come to my world! It’s always the hand game.

“I’ve seen in an interview that he said when he hit Conor McGregor, he knocked Conor McGregor down and that I didn’t knock Conor McGregor down. OK, Khabib you got my leftovers. Whoop-de-doo.”