Sean O'Malley makes bold prediction for crossover boxing clash with Floyd Mayweather as UFC star teases career switch

30/08/2024 14:05

Sean O’Malley is keen to duke it out with Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition bout.

The UFC bantamweight champion insists he will more than likely crossover to boxing once his MMA career is finished and has ‘TBE’ at the top of his hit list.

Speaking about the possibility of him sharing the ring with Mayweather during the most recent episode of the Timbo-Sugar Show podcast, he said: “I would love that. That would be crazy.”

But O’Malley wouldn’t just be there for the experience, ‘Suga’ thinks he could become the first man to shut out Mayweather‘s lights.

He added: “Just get him right at the end, f****** put him out, put him in. Exhibition s***? One hundred per cent.”

O’Malley is currently one of the biggest and best fighters in MMA but before he signed with the UFC, the 29-year-old tried his hand at boxing.

One year before O’Malley signed with the UFC following an impressive KO win on a Contender Series show in 2017, ‘Suga’ knocked out journeyman boxer, David Courtney in his lone pro boxing bout.

Courtney was a veteran of three fights (1-2) at the time but was no match for the debutant, who floored him three times in the opening round before flattening him with a clubbing right hand to close the show with one second remaining in the frame.

Despite his name value, it seems unlikely O’Malley will land a fight with Mayweather, mostly due to timing.

O’Malley doesn’t look like he will be winding down his MMA career anytime soon.

The Montana technician is at the peak of his powers at 29 years old and is one of the faces of the UFC.

He returns to action on September 15 in the second defence on his bantamweight crown against Merab Dvalishvilli in the main event of UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere.

O’Malley is, at the very least, five years away from fielding offers for exhibition boxing bouts.

Meanwhile, Mayweather doesn’t look like he has much time left in the crossover boxing sphere.

The former five-weight world champion is 47 years old and is starting to cut down his hectic exhibition boxing schedule that has seen him share the ring with YouTubers, reality television stars and everything in between since retiring from the professional ranks in 2017.

Last time out, Mayweather outclassed John Gotti III over eight rounds in a non-scoring bout earlier this month.

Mayweather and Gotti III ran it back at the Mexico City Arena after their inaugural encounter in June 2023 ended in a no-contest due to excessive trash-talking, prompting a mass brawl to break out in the ring.

The boxing icon was initially linked with a rematch against Victor Ortiz before it was announced he would be facing Gotti III again.

Ortiz fought Rodrigo Damian Coria on the undercard instead and may be considered as a future opponent for Mayweather.