By now, most Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor fans have heard the rumor of a super-fight on the horizon. However, with McGregor’s UFC contract still in place and a scheduled fight against Dustin Poirier, many fans wonder if the fight against Pacquiao is still going to happen.
Fans can now rest unofficially secure as Audie Attar (McGregor’s Manager) told media sources that Conor wants to fight Pacquiao, so he believes the fight will happen. Attar also said that the UFC 257 main event between McGregor and Poirier is Conor’s primary focus, but negotiations for the exhibition boxing match between the two stars have already begun.
Interest in the super-fight has already exploded online from when McGregor first tweeted about it in late September.
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
Since the tweet, other developments have happened, including a confirmation by Manny Pacquiao. A press release from Pacquiao’s office stated, “For the sake of all the Filipino Covid-19 victims, Senator Manny Pacquiao will be fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year.”
Manny Pacquiao is now a Senator in the Philippines but has not retired from professional boxing. In 2019 Pacquiao cemented his active status with a split decision win over Keith Thurman.
McGregor had his last UFC fight in early 2020 where he defeated Donald Cerrone in the first 40 seconds of the battle. Since then, Conor has retired and returned to the sport and is now slated to fight Dustin Poirier in UFC 257 on Jan 23rd, 2021.
Online sportsbooks that service the Philippines already have odds for the McGregor/Pacquiao fight and UFC odds for McGregor/Poirier. Below are the current odds offered at BetOnline.
Odds To Win:
- Pacquiao, Manny -2000
- McGregor, Conor +750
Odds To Win:
- Dustin Poirier +200
- Conor McGregor -235
