Bikie gang boss who was jailed for assault makes huge move relating to Conor McGregor's new business venture

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

A former bikie gang boss has revealed he is in talks with Conor McGregor 's Bare Knuckle Fight Championship to headline the controversial fighting competition's upcoming event in Perth.
Matthew Floyd who is understood to have been the former leader of WA's Lone Wolf bike gang has sought out a permit from the WA Combat Sports Commission, according to The West Australian.
He is now awaiting the outcome of the application, with the Commission holding an emergency meeting this week to make a call on whether he will be authorised to fight in the event, which has been scheduled to arrive in Perth on July 19.
Under the Commission's criteria, fighters are required to be of good standing and follow the Commission's code of conduct in order to receive a permit to fight.
It is understood that he could square off against former Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers in the event.
The West Australian said that Floyd was hoping the Commission would see how much of an opportunity this was going to be for him.
'It's at RAC Arena, it's a life-changing opportunity, financially, and also the person I'm fighting against . . . he fought Floyd Mayweather,' he said to the outlet.
'It's my way, it's a living, it's an income, you shouldn't be able to tell a man whether he can work or provide for his family or not.
'It's all these people sitting in their chairs stopping people from making an honest living.'
He added that he hoped the Commission would look past his criminal history.
Floyd was jailed in his early 20s over ecstasy tablets.
He'd later rise to become the leader of the WA Chapter of the Lone Wolf bikie gang.
But he'd be thrown back into prison for a further six years after he was charged with assault and kidnapping of known paedophiles.
Since then, Floyd has turned his attention to the boxing ring. He also recently called out Tommy Fury for a meeting in the ring.
He owns and operates a gym in WA and is helping many young fighters stay out of crime while actualising their potential as fighters.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Rita Saffioti also explained she would not step in to cancel the event, if the Commission handed Floyd a permit.
'The advice to me is that with very strict protocols and criteria that the event, if the organiser were to meet that, that it could be conducted in WA,' she said.
McGregor is a co-owner of the fighting championship and recently was pictured standing with Floyd and boxing coach Phil Sutcliffe.
He has also vowed to one day fight in the promotion. 'Yes, the warrior spirit burns inside me,' he said. 'If you think I'm up here giving these speeches and leading these men into battle and I wont step in there myself, think again,' McGregor declared.
'For sure, Conor McGregor will fight in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Mark my words.'
Concerns have been raised over the safety of fighters competing in bare-knuckle events.
However, Floyd has assured those with doubts over the sport that there were greater risks in boxing.
'I've got in plenty of street fights and, you know, felt like it hurt, but you'd only ever feel it the next day,' Floyd added.
'In boxing, you get the thump, you feel like your whole head just goes, and it might go black for a bit — I feel like that's from the glove.'
The event, though, is still waiting on the green light from WA Combat Sports Commission chairman, Bob Kucera.
He told the ABC that fighters were waiting for permits to be issued while a decision on whether the event would proceed as planned would be made by June 7.
He also allayed concerns over the safety of the event, telling ABC radio, that participants are 'not people like you see in Northbridge where it's just a couple of drunks on the street having a go.