A potential dream fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor just became one step closer to becoming a reality as the UFC lightweight champion was granted a boxers licence by the California State Athletic Commission.

What has thus far been pure fantasy is now closer to becoming an actual thing. Although there are still many hurdles to overcome, a boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor could take place. Where? The great state of California. That’s because the brash Irishman filed for a boxers licence which the CSAC granted. The news was first reports by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

It’s only been a few weeks since McGregor made history by becoming the first simultaneous duel weight UFC champion when he defeated Eddie Alvarez at he blockbuster UFC 205 which was held in Madison Square Garden, New York City. Now it appears he has his eyes set on making history in the world of professional boxing.

Obtaining a boxers licence is a great first step in attempting to make a fight with Mayweather a reality but McGregor still has other obstacles to overcome. The UFC owns the promotional rights for his career so if McGregor intends on co-promoting a potential match with Mayweather on his own he’ll need to get sign off from the promotion. If McGregor has proven anything by now it’s that when he puts his mind to something he usually gets it done.

Promotionally a Mayweather vs. McGregor boxing fight in 2017 would most certainly become a record breaker and blow box office and pay-per-view numbers out of the water. From a sporting point of view however it’s hard to fathom how a mixed martial artist would fair against a combat sports athlete so dominant and superior in one discipline, boxing. At the same time if the roles where reversed and this were a MMA fight it’s also hard to see how Mayweather would fair against an all round fighter in McGregor.

As for right now this is all pure speculation. Both Mayweather and McGregor have taken subtle jabs at each other through the media however with McGregor able to officially and legally box in California it will be interested to see how things progress in the coming days and weeks ahead.