Conor McGregor is a step closer to a superfight with unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather after he successfully obtained a professional boxing licence in California.

McGregor’s agent, Audie Attar, told ESPN on Wednesday night that the Irish UFC superstar had been approved in his application for a professional boxing licence, with confirmation coming soon after from the California State Athletic Commission.

28-year-old McGregor became the UFC’s first simultaneous two-time champion after he beat Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 earlier this month to win the lightweight title. McGregor already held the featherweight belt after defeating Jose Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 193 last December, but he was forced to relinquish that title this week after failing to defend it for the last 11 months.

Since defeating Alvarez with such a dominant performance, McGregor has admitted that he will take a break from the Octagon to pursue other interests, as well as prepare for the arrival of his first child along with partner Dee Devlin.

But the move to acquire a boxing licence means that McGregor could look to make his professional debut in the squared-circle in the coming months, and the CSAC’s executive director Andy Foster confirmed last night that McGregor is already looking for “appropriately matched-up opponents”.

Both McGregor and Mayweather have spoken in the past of their desire to fight each other, although the Irishman said, tongue in cheek, that he would demand $100m to face the American. However, Mayweather also reacted angrily to comparisons with McGregor following his UFC 205 victory, and labelled them as “total disrespect”.

Mayweather remains unbeaten with a 49-0 boxing record after retiring last year following his showdown with Manny Pacquiao, but ‘Money’ has been warned not to underestimate McGregor by UFC president Dana White because the ‘Notorious’ puts “people to sleep with his hands”, while Mayweather does with his “fighting style”.

“Conor McGregor, if he touches you, you go to sleep,” White said as quoted by Hypebeast.

UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Show all 28 1 /28 UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor walks out of UFC 205 the first simultaneous two-weight world champion. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez McGregor celebrates his KO win over Eddie Alvarez UFC 205 to hold the lightweight and featherweight titles. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez McGregor became the first man to hold two different belts in UFC history. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez McGregor continues to set the benchmark in the UFC. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Referee John McCarthy waves off the main event after Alvarez is floored for a fourth time. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez McGregor utilised his left hook counter to floor Alvarez three times in the first round. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez McGregor taunted Alvarez by holding back hands behind his back and urging him to throw a punch. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Alvarez had no answer for McGregor's speed and power. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson Tyron Woodley retained his welterweight title by majority draw against Stephen Thompson. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson Thompson survived a barrage of punches as well as a long gullotine choke hold. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson Thompson was busted open on the bridge of his nose in the first round. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Tyron Woodley vs Stephen Thompson Woodley floored Thompson and dominated the opening round but Thompson would fight back. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz Joanna Jedrzejczyk was pushed all the way by fellow Pole Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz Jedrzejczyk dominated Kowalkiewicz for the first three rounds before the tables turned. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz Jedrzejczyk remains the strawweight champion. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Chris Weidman vs Yoel Romero Chris Weidman suffered a brutal defeat after catching a flying knee from Yoel Romero. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Chris Weidman vs Yoel Romero Romero's flying knee split Weidman's head wide open to end the fight. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Miesha Tate vs Raquel Pennington Miesha Tate announced her retirement after defeat by former apprentice Raquel Pennington. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Miesha Tate vs Raquel Pennington Pennington dominated Tate for the entire three rounds. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Miesha Tate vs Raquel Pennington New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr was at ringside for the bout. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Frankie Edgar vs Jeremy Stephens Frankie Edgar got back to winning ways by defeating Jeremy Stephens. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Frankie Edgar vs Jeremy Stephens Edgar dominated Stephens but was rocked badly in the final round. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Michael Johnson Khabib Nurmagomedov immediately called out Conor McGregor after defeating Michael Johnson by submission. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Tim Boetsch vs Rafael Natal Tim Boetsch knocked out Rafael Natal in the first round. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Vincente Luque vs Belal Muhammad Vincente Luque beat Belal Muhammad inside 90 seconds. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Vincente Luque vs Belal Muhammad Luque caught Muhammad with a counter left to end the bout. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Jim Miller vs Thiago Alves Jim Miller beat Thiago Alves in the early preliminaries. Zuffa LLC via Getty UFC 205 Conor McGregor vs Eddie Alvarez Liz Carmouche vs Katlyn Chookagian Liz Carmouche beat Katlyn Chookagian in the early preliminaries. Zuffa LLC via Getty

"Floyd puts people to sleep too, with his fighting style, not with his hands.

"Floyd can say what he wants about Conor, but even other fighters have to respect him. He’s special.

"Floyd’s never even come close to doing to other fighters what Conor does.”