Boxing legend Mike Tyson believes that Conor McGregor will struggle to be a real threat ahead of his potential return to UFC due to the Irishman’s current earnings.

Tyson, who went 50-6 in a career that spanned just over 20 years, feels as if McGregor will lack the motivation to reach the top of his game.

Tyson said on a recent episode of his HotBoxin’ podcast: “It’s hard to stay ready with that lifestyle.”

He further went on to explain that the main motivator is money, with it being a struggle to even train without the promise of a larger prize pool.

Tyson explained: “Have you ever had a $30million fight? Then talk to me later when you get a $30 million, $40 million fight. When you got a $40 million fight and the week after you have that money, and they are telling you that you have to fight in six weeks it’s hard to get out the bed. You end up saying ‘how much money is it? Give me five more million.”

The American boxer ended his professional career with prize winnings reaching £475 million.

DUBLIN, IRELAND - OCTOBER 22: Conor McGregor meets fans at a Reebok UFC Combat Gear retail event held at JD Sports on October 22, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne/Getty Images for Reebok)

DUBLIN, IRELAND - OCTOBER 22: Conor McGregor meets fans at a Reebok UFC Combat Gear retail event held at JD Sports on October 22, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne/Getty Images for Reebok)

McGregor’s lifestyle and attitude has often got himself in trouble, with the most recent incident occurring back in 2019, when the UFC star punched an old man in the head after he refused a shot of McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve whisky.

He has since brought the Marble Arch pub in Dublin and has banned the victim in the process.

The Notorious hasn't been seen inside an Octagon since his loss to Dustin Poirier, which saw him lose the fight due to a broken tibia.

The fight was the finale of the trilogy between the two; McGregor won the first back in 2014 and Poirier won the final two both by KO/TKO, being the only man to beat McGregor in this fashion.

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However, he is set to return from his enforced break, with his social media full of training videos.

UFC president Dana White has further stoked the fire of McGregor’s return, saying: “When Conor is cleared by a doctor and ready to go, we’ll figure out who’s next.”