Andre Ward doesn't like McGregor calling Mayweather 'boy'

Conor McGregor is receiving some backlash for his choice of words in his early press conferences with Floyd Mayweather.

Boxing star Andre Ward is among many people to take issue with McGregor saying "dance for me, boy" in both his Tuesday and Wednesday exchanges with his opponent.

"I don't like that 'boy' word," Ward told TMZ Sports. "I don't like that."

Asked if McGregor should get a pass because he's Irish, thus perhaps not understanding the racist connotations of the word in the United States, Ward declined to get into such a conversation.

"I just don't like that word," Ward said. "I don't think you should use that word."

Both Mayweather and his father, Floyd Sr., have denied the suggestion that McGregor's comments were racially motivated.

After opening stops in Los Angeles and Toronto, McGregor and Mayweather will meet for the third leg of their world tour Thursday in Brooklyn.