While nothing is yet set in stone, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has confirmed that preliminary negotiations are underway for a boxing match against UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor in April, 2018.
This is inline with a new statement Conor McGregor released on Thursday, stating he may return to Boxing, not MMA, but plans to indeed fight in 2018.
In his statement, McGregor stated, “My focus is getting back into the right ring or octagon. 2017 was historic.” McGregor said of his wild 2017. “I have transcended both the sport of MMA and boxing.”
“At this stage of my career, as it has been for the majority of my UFC career, potential opponents must lobby for fights with me.We could see Conor McGregor anywhere. I run the fight game, the fashion game, the whiskey game, or whatever the next business endeavour might be.
“I have every intention of fighting in 2018 if my compensation and business development endeavours accurately reflect my influence on combat sports.”
Now, Pacquiao tells SkySports that he’s in talks with McGregor to return to boxing.
Here’s their report:
Manny Pacquiao has revealed he and Conor McGregor have held preliminary talks about a possible fight in April.
Pacquiao, a senator in his native Philippines, was asked on Friday if he had approached McGregor’s representatives about a fight.
“Initially,” Pacquiao said. “But we have not yet had any follow-up conversations.
“If we can negotiate it, I have no problem. It is OK with both of us.”
Last month, Pacquiao took to social media with a message that appeared to hint at a match with McGregor:
“Happy Thanksgiving! Stay fit my friend. #realboxingmatch #2018 @thenotoriousmma.”
Pacquiao, who turns 39 this month, lost his WBO welterweight title to Australian Jeff Horn in July, having come out of retirement in 2016 to take the belt from American Jessie Vargas.
McGregor has not fought in MMA or boxing since losing to Floyd Mayweather by a 10th-round technical knockout in their bout in Las Vegas in August.
Pacquiao, who has won eight world championships in different weight divisions, stressed McGregor is just one of many possible opponents and the fight has to happen during the Senate recess in the Philippines:
“It depends who they can finalise as my opponent by April,” he said.
Aside from McGregor, Pacquiao could also have a rematch with Horn or a fight with 29-year-old American Keith Thurman who holds the WBA Super welterweight title and the WBC welterweight title.
