Khabib Nurmagomedov hopes to have former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in his corner for a potential superfight with Floyd Mayweather.
The 30-year-old Russian called out the undefeated boxer following his win over Conor McGregor last week at UFC 229, when he appeared alongside the CEO of Mayweather's promotions company, Leonard Ellerbe, saying "in the jungle there, there is only one king".
Mayweather, who is 50-0, last fought in August 2017 when he came out of retirement to defeat McGregor in a highly lucrative boxing bout, and it seems he has accepted Nurmagomedov's challenge on Instagram, saying "Let's make Las Vegas great again", as an apparent reference to the ugly scenes when Nurmagomedov and McGregor's teams clashed inside and outside the octagon at UFC 229.
If a deal can be struck for the two to fight in the boxing ring, the UFC lightweight champion will look to add Tyson to his team along with Anatoly Lomachenko, father and coach of pound-for-pound best Vasyl Lomachenko.
"Khabib will have a chances according to the rules of boxing, he will have a more chances than McGregor. Khabib will go in the clinch close up," the fighter's father Abdulmanap told TASS.
"I would like the best specialist in the world of boxing Anatoly Lomachenko and Mike Tyson to be in our corner."
Mike Tyson is a long-time UFC fan and has attended several events in recent years so it's very possible that he would consider working with Nurmagomedov should a fight materialise.
Tyson previously labelled Mayweather "a scared, little man" after 'Money' said he was greater than Muhammad Ali.
Nurmagomedov is currently serving a temporary suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission as they investigate his role in the melee that broke out following the main event title fight with McGregor.
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By Stephen Larkin.
