Conor McGregor has let the cat out of the bag and revealed that he’s in talks to fight Manny Pacquiao in a boxing match.
That may well tie in with recent comments from Dana White suggesting that he had “something fun” planned for McGregor, while also claiming on BT Sport within the last week that he’d have an a boxing related announcement in the coming weeks.
McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, who also represents Pacquiao, has since confirmed that talks are indeed taking place, and though a deal hasn’t been finalized yet, they are targeting a December or January date for the showdown.
McGregor had first began on social media yesterday by revealing to Diego Sanchez that he had been looking to fight him earlier in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic struck.
“To Diego Sanchez…I seen your recent comments about your final bout and I am in!” McGregor wrote on Twitter.
“You fought Pereira, I had requested for myself and you to compete in Dublin. This was back in February when I was working on opposition for my season, pre covid. Good luck this weekend!”
Truth be told it’s probably for the best that this particular bout didn’t happen as it makes no sense whatsoever. Sanchez looked, quite frankly, terrible during the Pereira fight and only emerged with a victory due to his opponent being DQ’d in the midst of a one-sided dominant display against the veteran.
According to McGregor though it was just one of many bouts he envisaged taking over the course of the year.
“I was pushing hard for the season. Multiple opponents, multiple dates offered throughout. All to take place back to back.
Then when covid hit and the talk was that I would have to wait for crowds again, I walked away from the situation. I was waiting long enough at that stage.”
However, McGregor then went on to drop the bombshell that his next fight may come against another boxing legend in the squared circle.
“Anyway all water under the bridge who gives a fook. I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.”
Pacquiao has since confirmed McGregor’s claims.
“For the sake of all the Filipino Covid-19 victims, Senator Manny Pacquiao will be fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year,” a statement from Pacquiao’s office reads.
“The huge portion of his earnings will proceed to those who are affected nationwide by the pandemic.”
Like McGregor’s only other boxing opponent, Floyd Mayweather, a fight with Pacquiao would see him going up against another legend of the sweet science and one of the best boxers of his generation.
At 41, Pacquiao may no longer be at his peak, but nonetheless he is currently the WBA super welterweight champion and in 2019 earned back-to-back victories on the scorecards against Adrien Bromer and Keith Thurman.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old McGregor is coming off a 40 second TKO victory against Donald Cerrone in the UFC at the start of the year to get back to winning ways after having lost his lightweight title by submission against Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2018.
