Dana White insists Conor McGregor will not return to boxing in potential fights with KSI or Logan Paul.
McGregor was heavily linked with a huge $250million showdown against YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul in India, but interest has since cooled.
The Irishman has since held talks with another influencer boxer in KSI over a clash, despite having two fights remaining on his current deal with the UFC.
He hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in a defeat to Dustin Poirier in 2021, but looked set to finally make a comeback against Michael Chandler last year.
But he was forced to withdraw after sustaining a new broken toe injury in training, and a new date for his return is yet to be pencilled in.
McGregor is still contracted to the UFC, and the promotion’s kingpin Dana White insists that will prevent him entering the boxing ring in 2025.
“Eventually,” White responded when asked if McGregor would fight in the UFC again in 2025.
“No no [won’t fight KSI or Logan Paul]. I’m hoping that Conor McGregor will return in the fall.”
McGregor’s absence from the promotion leaves a sizeable hole given his selling power and superstar status.
In his prime, the ferocious striker reigned as a two-weight simultaneous champion in 2016.
But he decided to pursue a mega-money boxing fight with Floyd Mayweather one year later, making his debut in the squared circle.
He has returned to the cage since in high profile defeats to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Poirier, with just one win in the last eight years, which came against Donald Cerrone in the cage in 2020.
But the looming possibility of a boxing match has always been key to McGregor’s future, having suggested he would be open to the possibility before the end of his career.
Recently KSI decided to throw his hat into the ring over a boxing fight, to which McGregor responded with some social media interest.
And Mams Taylor, ‘The Nightmare’s’ manager, believes the UFC veteran is indeed interested in accepting the clash.
He told talkSPORT: “There are talks taking place, and talks are leading to more talks.
“I know he’s interested for a fact. I think no fight makes more sense than this fight for Conor.
“He was truly unbelievable in the days where he fought Jose Aldo.
“He’s a tough guy, he’s a tough challenge for anyone and I think now with the back and forth, it makes sense.
“I think this will break records and be in the top five biggest selling pay-per-views of all-time.
“I think all sides are motivated by what it can do, they can both sell. There is an underlying respect and disdain there too.
“I think it will be a massive, massive fight and I can’t think of a fight that would be bigger for Conor in terms of numbers.
“There are some complications and hurdles to overcome. But we are definitely going for it, and I also think it’s a stadium fight.”
White’s update would appear to spell an end to that, but McGregor’s future remains uncertain.
It is unclear exactly the calibre of opponent he could return against, given it is now over a three-year hiatus from the sport.
