Conor McGregor supposedly “retired” from the UFC in June earlier this year, but everyone knew that wasn’t going to last. He was going to find some way to do something.
Now, we know what that something is. McGregor said he’s gearing up to fight Manny Pacquiao in the boxing ring next.
Nothing is official yet. They’re still in negotiations, according to ESPN’s Areil Helwani. But if this actually happens, you can bet that it’ll be a huge event.
McGregor’s fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2017 was one of the highest grossing boxing matches ever. This one would probably be right there with it.
He announced his plan to fight Pacquiao in a tweet.
Warning: There is some NSFW language in these tweets
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
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
There is one small caveat here. We should maybe take these with a grain of salt. They are really in negotiations with Pacquaio to make the fight happen, per reports, but it feels like this could be a negotiating tactic.
McGregor was trying to return to the UFC before scheduling this fight but Dana White pushed back against giving him a blockbuster event after his fight in January.
He posted DM’s of their negotiations on Twitter.
3 weeks post my last record breaking event, I was campaigning for another blockbuster McGregor event to take place.
Sad about my season I must say 😔— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
Here’s the finish of that exchange. Pre covid. Pre retirement.
Never turned down offer of Tony as was suggested at the time. I stated months in advance (early February) that I was not interested in being an alternate for two consistent pullouts.
Pushed for my own scheduled bouts pic.twitter.com/jXQD2dTWrL— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
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.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
So it sounds like the Pacquiao fight was something he had up his sleeve just in case he couldn’t get another big UFC event this year. And it doesn’t seem like he’s going to, so this fight should happen.
If it does, it’ll be later this year in December or early next year sometime. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
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