Getty Conor McGregor calls out during a ceremonial weigh-in for UFC 246 at Park Theater at Park MGM on January 17, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Irish MMA superstar Conor McGregor revealed on Friday that he is in talks with boxing icon Manny Pacquiao for a boxing bout in the Middle East, and Pacquiao’s team has confirmed that negotiations are taking place.
A statement was provided to ESPN from Pacquiao’s assistant Jayke Joson confirming that Pacquiao is interested in the bout and that a “huge portion” of his earnings will go toward those affected by COVID-19 in the Philippines.
“It is confirmed the negotiation between the camp of Senator Pacquiao and McGregor is now starting to move on. Again, as what our senator says, all his fights are dedicated for the welfare and unity of all Filipinos including this one.
“For the sake of all the Filipino Covid-19 victims, Senator Manny Pacquiao will be fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year. The huge portion of his earnings will proceed to those who are affected nationwide by the pandemic.”
McGregor has competed in one professional boxing bout, a tenth-round TKO loss to Floyd Mayweather in August 2017. “Notorious” has a professional MMA record of 22-4.
Pacquiao has a professional boxing record of 62-7-2 with 39 knockouts. The last time he stepped into the ring was in July 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman by split decision.
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McGregor Revealed on Friday That He Is Pursuing a Match With Pacquiao
On Friday afternoon, McGregor took to Twitter to reveal a plethora of information, including that he was boxing Pacquiao. He tweeted, “I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.”
McGregor has teased a potential match with Pacquiao a few times. During the buildup to his UFC 246 fight with Donald Cerrone in January, the Irishman told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani that were talks of him fighting Pacquiao.
McGregor Also Showed Interest in Fighting Diego Sanchez in a UFC Bout
Pacquiao wasn’t the only name McGregor mentioned on Friday, he also accepted a challenge from Ultimate Fighter season one winner Diego Sanchez. Sanchez is set to fight Jake Matthews on the preliminary card during UFC 253, and after that, he says he wants to fight three more times with his last fight being against McGregor.
According to McGregor, he told UFC president Dana White in February that he was interested in fighting Sanchez. McGregor tweeted, “To Diego Sanchez… I seen your recent comments about your final bout and I am in! After you fought [Michel] 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!”
McGregor also provided screenshots of his conversation with White regarding White.
To Diego Sanchez…
I seen your recent comments about your final bout and I am in!
After 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!
Sanchez responded to McGregor on Twitter later in the day. He tweeted, “It’s in the ether destiny was ours long ago in 2012 a double manifestation of two warriors connected to the universe! I will earn this with my excellence sat!”
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Conor McGregor Megafight Negotiations: ‘It Is Confirmed’