Conor McGregor and YouTuber Logan Paul in talks for $500M boxing fight

In December, McGregor hinted at preliminary talks for a boxing exhibition with a prominent YouTube personality. Recent developments suggest that the fight, sponsored by Indian billionaire Anant Ambani, is nearing finalization and could be officially announced soon.

Over the weekend, MMA journalist Emmett Glenn revealed on X that McGregor and Logan Paul are scheduled to face off in Mumbai in 2025. The fight is expected to take place at Wankhede Stadium as part of a campaign promoting Indian tourism.

A screenshot of Conor McGregor retweeting the post on X about reaching agreement on a fight with Logan Paul.

Both fighters are rumored to receive $250 million for the bout, which would make it one of the most lucrative events in boxing history.

McGregor retweeted the announcement with an Indian flag and heart emoji, while Paul liked similar posts on Instagram, further increasing the buzz.

The staggering $500 million purse for an exhibition fight sparked debates online.

"More than most world championship fights? This is insane!" one fan commented.

Another wrote: "Each fighter gets $250 million for an exhibition? Crazy!"

However, many criticized McGregor for prioritizing exhibition boxing over returning to the UFC.

"I'm tired of these gimmick fights. McGregor doesn't have the guts to return to the UFC," wrote one fan.

Another commented: "So much money for a boring fight."

Conor McGregor at the premiere of the movie "Notorious" about his career in 2017. Photo by AP

McGregor last competed professionally in July 2021 at UFC 264, where he suffered a broken ankle in a loss to Dustin Poirier. With a 22-6 MMA record, McGregor is a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion and the first UFC fighter to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously.

Known as "the king of pay-per-view", McGregor has headlined five of the UFC's highest-grossing events. Forbes named him the world's highest-paid athlete in 2021, earning $180 million and he also ranked fourth in 2018 with $99 million.

McGregor's crossover boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather in 2017 took his name to another level. Although McGregor lost, he earned $100 million, solidifying his status as a global sports icon.

Logan Paul, known for his social media influence, has ventured into professional boxing with two official fights. In 2019, he lost on points to British YouTuber KSI after six rounds but later defeated Dillon Danis in October 2023.

Paul's most notable fight came in 2021, an exhibition match against Floyd Mayweather at Hard Rock Stadium, where he lasted eight rounds and reportedly earned $20 million, according to The Sun.