What Conor McGregor has to do to fight for a boxing world title, according to WBC

Former two-division UFC world champion Conor McGregor can also become a world champion in boxing, according to World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman.

The 32-year-old McGregor, who is 0-1 as a pro boxer, is eyeing a showdown with eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

And should he decide to venture into the world of boxing, Sulaiman says that the Irish mixed martial arts superstar can get a shot at a world title if he beat ranked contenders.

“If he is to start boxing and proves with victories in boxing then he should certainly be given the opportunity to fight for a world title,” Sulaiman told The Sun.

“We in the WBC, consider the amateur career as one of the criteria for rankings,” he added.

“So, Conor has a mixed martial arts resume, so if he comes into boxing and wins a fight against a ranked fighter, he would be eligible to be ranked.”

McGregor’s lone fight in pro boxing came against Floyd Mayweather in August 2017 where he suffered a 10th-round technical knockout.

Though McGregor did not exactly look like he would be a threat against elite pugilists, Sulaiman believes that the Irish MMA superstar has what it takes to become a boxing champ.

“This is not a rookie entering the sport, he has a long history of combat sports, so it's a different scenario of what it used to be in the past,” Sulaiman explained.

“What we saw with Mayweather was of course different with the times, the rounds, it is not the same to fight five rounds to then go 12 rounds,” he quipped.

“But he has the ability, he has power, he has status as a fighter.”

McGregor is scheduled to face former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier in a rematch at UFC 257 on Jan. 23 at the Etihad Stadium in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

And should he get his wish to fight Pacquiao next and pull an upset, McGregor may very well find his name among the top ranked fighters in the world by the WBC.

“To compete and become a world champion in the WBC, he would need to fight in boxing and by merit be ranked. Then, he would be in the position to challenge,” Sulaiman stressed.

“I don't know what weight category he would be, but definitely he would need to get a decisive win against a quality opponent to be considered to be ranked.” – JM Siasat/RC, GMA News