Conor McGregor expects a contract to be issued shortly for his proposed fight against Manny Pacquiao.
McGregor returns to action in the UFC this weekend when he faces Dustin Poirier in a rematch on Fight Island on Saturday night.
But he also has a comeback to the boxing ring in his sights with Pacquiao tipped to be his next opponent.
And the Irishman believes the bout is likely to happen this year, and that he should have a contract to sign soon.
He told Sportsnet: "It’s almost a certainty. I’m hearing there’s a contract and all coming… it’s that close.
“We haven’t (spoken) but it should happen in 2021. But I want to get my MMA game going a bit more as well.
"I'm fighting Poirier who is a southpaw. Manny is a southpaw. I've been sparring professional southpaw boxers in the gym in preparation, not only for Dustin, but also in the back of my mind for Manny."
McGregor has been out of action for over a year since stopping Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds on January 18 last year.
His only professional boxing bout came against Floyd Mayweather in August 2017 when he was stopped in the 10th round by the unbeaten American pound-for-pound king.
But McGregor is raring to go ahead of his return to action.
"It's good to be here on Fight Island and to see it in the flesh," he said. "I've had a good look at the Etihad Arena, checking it all out.
"I'm very excited to be here, I'm very ready... let's get it going.
"I'm going to finish my practise and carry on with making weight and then perform. I'm going to show the world something special once again and I'm very excited."
