Floyd Mayweather Responds to Conor McGregor's Knockout Prediction

Rather than responding in kind to Conor McGregor's recent verbal barb, Floyd Mayweather Jr. opted for a more humble route.

McGregor said March 17 he's "going to stop Floyd," per CBSSports.com's Brian Campbell. In an interview Sunday for FightHype.com (warning: NSFW language), Mayweather brushed the comments aside (h/t the Sun's Stuart Atkins).

"I feel he's entitled to feel the way he wants to feel," Mayweather said. "The only thing you can do is respect that."

Should Mayweather and McGregor agree to fight, predicting a favorite would be almost solely dependent on the rules of the bout. Mayweather is one of the best boxers of his generation, while McGregor is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Mayweather would be in his element and the clear pick to win in a boxing fight, whereas he'd become a heavy underdog should the event be under MMA rules.

Slowly but surely, the signs are pointing to the two stars clearing all the necessary hurdles and formally announcing a date for their megafight.

FloCombat's Duane Finley reported March 12 the T-Mobile Arena is purposefully keeping June 10 free of any events on the chance that's when Mayweather and McGregor agree to fight, though McGregor told the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire he's eyeing a September date.