Keeler called out UFC star McGregor on Twitter after the Notorious was filmed allegedly punching an elderly man in a pub.
Keeler had tweeted: “Sad to see @TheNotoriousMMA stoop so low, did the same to a friend of mine couple of years ago and still walking around acting the gangster, I’d be happy to put him in his place if he had the balls to step in a ring again??”
And Conor McGregor has now responded with Keeler, who holds a professional boxing record of 17-2-1, stating that the UFC star phoned him.
Keeler told Irish Boxing: “He rang me and we had a few words.
“I told him the fight was there to be made and he was all for it. He agreed to fight over the phone.
“I agree it could be just all talk. Whether he has the balls or not to get in the ring again, never mind with me, we will have to see.
“He could have been just trying to front up or speaking in anger, but it got to the stage where I felt comfortable enough passing onto my management team.
“I don’t want to get into it too much, but I know he wasn’t happy about the call out. He is not happy.
“The fight community in Ireland is small enough and Crumlin isn’t too far from Ballyfermot – and I heard he wasn’t happy with the timing of.
“I don’t mind calling out a bully – and that is what is he. As I said I’d be happy to put him in his place.
“I just think that behaviour isn’t right, especially from someone who knows how to use his fists and knows the damage that can be done.
“Plus like I said in the tweet it wasn’t the first time he has done something like that.”
McGregor has previously stepped into a boxing ring, taking on Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
He has been out of competitive fighting action since being beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov last year at UFC 229.
That fight was shrouded in controversy following a number of personal incidents between the pair.
It escalated after the bout into a mass brawl with both fighters given bans.
McGregor is clear to fight again now though and Keeley believes he has enough to beat the 31-year-old.
He added: “With pride on the line I’d look to take him out. Fans would get to see what he is like in a real fight not an exhibition.
“Plus let him beat a ranked fighter before he starts looking for all these big name stars. If he wants a big name let him earn it like the rest of us have to.
“I’d smash him up. He fought a 40-year-old welterweight who carried him for a few rounds then gassed because doesn’t live the life anymore as everyone knows.
“He will never have balls to step in ring again but I’ll be there if he does. The Irish public have turned their backs on him and would generate huge money people will pay to see him smashed up.”