Floyd Mayweather 'offering Conor McGregor $50 million' for one-off bout

Rumours emerged earlier this month that the two might agree a cross-code fight later this year, with the retired Mayweather said to be angered at McGregor's repeated assertion that he could easily beat the unbeaten boxer.

TMZ reports that "Mayweather has a $50 MILLION offer out to Conor McGregor," a huge payday equivalent to £34 million, and far more than the original £5m figure being mooted.

Yet TV industry experts believe that a bout between the two most popular fighters on the planet would generate more than double the $50m figure, with TMZ predicting that any bout would comfortably outstrip the pay-per-view revenue figure of $400 million generated when Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao last year.

That bout reportedly earned Mayweather $285 million, with the Filipino raking in $125m for losing a hugely-disappointing clash.

TMZ adds that there is a major contract wrinkle to be ironed out, suggesting that the terms of McGregor's contract with the UFC mean that UFC's chief Dana White has to be brought on board: "It's all about convincing Dana White, and there's just no way White would accept such a lopsided deal," the website adds, explaining that McGregor's popularity in Europe, Australia and Canada far outstrips Mayweather's, and would mean the MMA fighter could hold out for half the take.

The concept of the fight is outlandish - though as we recently reported, such things have happened before as when Muhammad Ali fought Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in the 1970s.

But with such figures at stake there could quickly be a huge amount of momentum behind the plan - and a date of New Years' Eve in Las Vegas has reportedly been set.