McGregor vs Pacquiao: Irish MMA superstar Conor McGregor shocked the combat sports world on Friday by claiming he will step back into the boxing ring against Manny Pacquiao.
McGregor: I’m fighting Manny Pacquiao next
McGregor posted a succession of tweets on Friday 25 September night explaining his inactivity since January, and saying that his next fight will be with Pacquiao.
“I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East,” McGregor dropped the bombshell revelation nonchalantly.
Pacquiao wants McGregor fight
Pacquiao is keen on a fight against McGregor next year, an aide said in a statement Saturday.
“For the sake of all the Filipino Covid-19 victims, Senator Manny Pacquiao will be fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year,” Pacquiao’s special assistant Jayke Joson said.
McGregor fought Floyd Mayweather in his only other boxing match and is keen to take on an equally iconic multiweight champion in the 41-year-old Pacquiao. The Filipino Senator is the reigning WBA welterweight champion and has won world titles in eight divisions.
“Our lawyers are finalising all the confidential details, but both fighters are getting ready for this one epic last boxing fight,” Pacquaio aide Joson said.
“His main focus right now is to help here and there, providing relief, shelter, money and food, among other necessities,” Joson added.
In January 2019, McGregor first mentioned a potential fight against the WBA Welterweight world champion.
McGregor wants a boxing world title
“The Manny Pacquiao talks have been ongoing,” he said at the time.
“An aspiration of mine now is to win a boxing world title. I think that would be a phenomenal feather in the cap and something I look to achieve in the future. And something I will achieve.”
Pacquiao the legend
Pacquiao has successfully combined a political career in the Philippines while continuing to box at the highest level.
He made his professional boxing debut at 16-years-old and owns a 62-7-2 win-loss-draw record with 39 knockouts. He has not fought since claiming the WBA welterweight crown with a victory over Keith Thurman in Las Vegas in July 2019.
McGregor could meet Money in the Octagon
There has been a suggestion that McGregor could have his rematch against Mayweather in a UFC octagon, with the promotion’s president Dana White confirming talks.
“We’re doing something with Floyd. Floyd is in our plans and we’re in Floyd’s plans this year. We’ll end up doing something,” White said.
The McGregor vs Pacquiao fight has not had a fixed date attached to it at this stage.
