Manny Pacquiao has confirmed that he wants to fight Conor McGregor in the ring next year, an aide said in a statement today.
“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, adding negotiations are ongoing.
“Our lawyers are finalising all the confidential details, but both fighters are getting ready for this one epic last boxing fight,” Joson added in a statement to The Inquirer.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao to fight Conor McGregor next year. He will use the earnings from the fight for COVID 19 response. | @LeilasINQ pic.twitter.com/dDA4nTYpuU
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 26, 2020
The fight is expected to be staged in the Middle East after the coronavirus pandemic abates, with Pacquiao donating a portion of his prize earnings to Filipino Covid-19 victims.
The virus has infected some 200,000 people in the Philippines and killed more than 5,000
Earlier on Friday, McGregor, 32, said on Twitter he was “boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.”
“It will be a true honour to have faced two of the greatest boxers of the modern era,” McGregor added.
McGregor first revealed the plans in a series of tweets, explaining why he decided to retire from UFC after conversations with president Dana White.
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
Here are McGregor's tweets in relation to his decision to retire again from the UFC.
The Dubliner posted screengrabs of a private conversation that he had with Dana White about the potential of his next UFC fight, which was rumoured to be against Diego Sanchez, before McGregor confirmed his plans to fight Pacquiao.
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! pic.twitter.com/Y0hf6Zr7XF— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
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
As for the fight between Pacquiao and McGregor, if it goes ahead, it will represent a return to the boxing ring for the Dubliner, who was defeated by Floyd Mayweather Jr in a blockbuster fight in 2017.
Pacquiao, 41, has not fought since claiming the WBA welterweight crown with a victory over Keith Thurman in Las Vegas in July last year.
Since then, Pacquiao has balanced his political career in the Philippines, where he is an elected senator, with his professional career as a boxer.
