Conor McGregor looks set to to face Manny Pacquaio in the Middle East in 2021.
UFC star, McGregor, who announced his retirement from combat sport in June revealed on social media on Friday his intentions to face eight-weight world champion, Pacquiao.
McGregor was stopped in the tenth round in his professional boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2017 in Las Vegas and said he’d be privileged to face a fellow ring legend.
“I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East,” McGregor tweeted.
“It will be a true honour to have faced two of the greatest boxers of the modern era, afraid of a fight.”
Pacquiao, 40, rolled back the years to defeat Keith Thurman last June and claim the WBA ‘Super’ Welterweight crown in Las Vegas.
The Filipino senator, who was also beaten by Mayweather Jr in 2015, confirmed that he had agreed to fight McGregor in a statement issued by his team, in a bid to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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
“For the sake of all the Filipino Covid-19 victims, Senator Manny Pacquiao will be fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year.
“The huge portion of his earnings will proceed to those who are affected nationwide by the pandemic.”
The news comes after UFC President Dana White revealed that he would be making an announcement in the coming weeks with a view to entering the world of boxing, having staged UFC fights on a private island in Abu Dhabi over recent months.
“Funnily enough, since the pandemic I’ve been looking at other options too,” White told BT Sport.
“And we’ll probably have something to announce here soon. Yeah [it is in the world of boxing].
“When it’s time, I’ll let you know, I’m not ready yet. But [it’ll be] in the next couple of weeks.”
