Pacquiao: In Talks with McGregor

Conor McGregor’s future in the MMA and boxing worlds has been uncertain for a while now, but if Manny Pacquiao has it his way, then McGregor could likely be in a boxing ring again.

This is because, on Friday night, Pacquiao told Sky Sports’ Jim White that he and McGregor are in talks for a fight this coming April.

In the boxing world, reports tonight Manny Pacquiao -39 later this month – has confirmed he’s opened talks to fight Conor McGregor in April next year.

— Jim White (@JimWhite) December 8, 2017

Pacquiao called out McGregor last month and even posted a message on Twitter taunting the current UFC lightweight champion.

Happy Thanksgiving @TheNotoriousMMA Stay fit my friend. #realboxingmatch #2018 pic.twitter.com/3ze20fZgpe

— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) November 23, 2017

Pacquiao was last seen in a boxing ring back at the start of July, losing the WBO Welterweight Championship to Jeff Horn in a highly controversial, highly disputed unanimous decision. A rematch was almost immediately booked, but Pacquiao pulled out due to his responsibilities with the Filipino government.

McGregor last competed in the Money Fight with Floyd Mayweather, where McGregor lost via TKO in the 10th round. Despite being UFC lightweight champion, McGregor hasn’t stepped foot in the Octagon since winning that title back in November 2016 at UFC 205.

While McGregor has been enjoying his life, he has earned many critics and ire in recent times — from rumors about a bar fight landed him in trouble with the Irish mafia, to his feud with MMA official Marc Goddard. His inactivity as the champion of a stacked UFC lightweight division has also brought on calls from many in the MMA community, including his fellow fighters, for McGregor to be stripped of his UFC title.

No official confirmation regarding this Pacquiao-McGregor rumor has come from McGregor, his camp or the UFC.