Conor McGregor says that he will fight Manny Pacquaio in a boxing match in the Middle East. His manager Audie Attar confirmed to ESPN that they are in advanced negotiations with ‘The Pacman.’ The fact that Attar’s Paradigm Sports represents both men is helping this to run smoother.
Pacquaio is the only eight-weight champion in boxing history. The 42-year-old Filipino currently holds the WBA welterweight title with a record of 62 wins and seven losses. He is arguably the greatest Asian athlete of all-time and one of boxing’s icons.
Meanwhile, McGregor is the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion. His lone venture into professional boxing saw him lose to Floyd Mayweather by TKO. However, as you can see from the clip below, the Notorious aims to be better prepared for his potential next fight.
Conor McGregor is back training in the boxing ring 🥊 (via @TheNotoriousMMA) pic.twitter.com/xK6xzKlsrU
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) September 25, 2020
Boxer
McGregor’s first foray into combat sports was as an amateur boxer before he transitioned to MMA. While he prefers the latter as a sport, the truth is that boxing pays more. At this stage of his career, the Irishman dreams of capturing a boxing title to add to his UFC straps. He explained on Twitter:
“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.”
At the start of this year, McGregor demolished Donald Cerrone. He expected to fight several times this year with the ambition of recapturing the lightweight title. However, that looks unlikely at this point in time.
Anyway all water under the bridge who gives a fook.
I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
Bombshell
Then McGregor dropped a bombshell by saying that he will fight Pacquaio next. This is an intriguing match-up. Pacquaio is a huge name and has so much experience. But he is also a fading force. Both men will think that they can win this fight. McGregor tweeted:
“Anyway all water under the bridge who gives a f**k. I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.”
Many people will say that McGregor’s cardio will let him down in a boxing match. However, this is not entirely accurate. The only times he has gassed out in MMA were in the later rounds of two welterweight fights where he was bloated. Furthermore, Mayweather cannily didn’t give the Irishman much time to prepare for his boxing debut. Nor did he train with a proper boxing camp.
It will be a true honour to have faced two of the greatest boxers of the modern era, afraid of a fight.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
Mixed Reaction
This news will get a mixed reaction. Nobody in MMA or boxing really has faith in McGregor’s ability to beat Pacquaio. But if he does, then people will say that the Pacman was too old. However, in terms of styles, name recognition, and prestige, it’s probably the biggest possible fight for the Irishman.
It also distracts for allegations of sexual assault in Corsica. Police on the French island arrested the former champion after a woman claimed that he exposed himself to her. McGregor wants to get back in the news for fight reasons.
