Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstar Conor McGregor has reportedly been granted a boxing licence in California, as speculation of a possible match-up with Floyd Mayweather continues.
The Irishman this month became the first fighter to hold two UFC belts simultaneously with a second-round knockout of Eddie Alvarez to claim the lightweight title.
The 28-year-old didn't hold them for long, however, as he vacated his featherweight crown this week. The belt was given to interim holder Jose Aldo, whom he beat in a 13-second KO in December last year.
"He got a licence today and a federal ID," California State Athletic Commission executive officer Andy Foster told MMAFighting.com. "He's a California boxer now.
"I'd love to see him fight in California," Foster said. "It just needs to be the right opponent. Certainly a high-level opponent. We're happy to license him."
The news will fuel rumours of a potential fight between McGregor and boxing great Mayweather.
"If the odds were good enough, I'd put a few quid on it for next year," McGregor's coach John Kavanagh said this week.
"Is it getting any closer? I don't know, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me that it's going to happen."
The two have sparred through the media over the past year.
McGregor said recently he wanted $100-million to take on Mayweather in the boxing ring. "He wants it under boxing rules. He wants a boxing match. He doesn't want a fight," McGregor told the crowd at a club appearance, according to TMZ Sports.
"Tell Floyd and Showtime, I'm coming. Tell him to go to them Showtime offices. I want $100-million cash to fight you under boxing rules cause he's afraid of a real fight."
Mayweather, meanwhile, has called the comparisons between him and McGregor "disrespectful".
"I'm an elephant, elephant don't beef with ants. Elephant is so large, he don't even see ants," Mayweather said.
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