UFC star Conor McGregor ‘excited’ for Manny Pacquiao showdown later this year

UFC: McGregor lets punches fly in training for Poirier fight

Conor McGregor has warned that he is ready to face eight-division boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao in a return to the sport this year. The controversial Irishman is currently preparing for a hotly-anticipated UFC rematch with Dustin Poirier later this month, an event that will see McGregor return to combat sport for the first time since his technical knockout victory over Donald Cerrone one year ago.

Speculation regarding a potential bout with Pacquiao intensified in October after it was revealed that the veteran Filipino had signed with Paradigm Sports Management, the same company that represents McGregor, leading fans to believe that a deal could easily be agreed.

Paradigm’s Audie Attar, who oversees the Irishman, revealed in November that he believes the fight will almost certainly take place in 2021.

‘He wants to fight Manny,” Attar told Bloomberg. “Manny’s come out and said he wants to fight Conor. As I’ve stated publicly before, we’ve had conversations.

“That is a fight that we’re definitely going to make because both fighters want it, and there seems to be interest from the fans all around the world.”

His comments have since been echoed by McGregor himself, who revealed to The Mac Life on Thursday that the prospect of a showdown with Pacquiao is highly likely.

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The 32-year-old also claimed that he is ‘excited’ by the prospect of sharing a ring with the decorated boxing legend.

“I know the talks are intensifying for this year,” he said, speaking from his training camp in Dubai.

“So I am excited for a Manny Pacquiao bout, and it’s looking like it will take place this year. What time this year, I’m not sure.

“We’re going to have to have some good discussions with Dana, and with the guys and the UFC after [UFC 257] and see where it goes, what’s there, what do we want. I am open to it all. I am ready for it all.”

McGregor’s previous escapade into boxing ended in defeat as he was schooled by undefeated welterweight Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

The American, who stretched his impressive record to 50-0-0 with the win, secured a tenth-round technical knockout to end McGregor’s hopes of completing one of the biggest upsets in sporting history.

Despite the Dublin-born fighter’s wish to give boxing another try, Dana White has urged him to focus on his UFC commitments, suggesting he could be given a possible opportunity to reclaim the lightweight title in the near future.

“I would love to see him focus on what he could do in the UFC,” White told ESPN.

“Whether it is taking another shot at the title against Khabib, or fight for the title against somebody else if Khabib retires and then defend that title.

“A boxing match with any of these guys, that sort of stuff is always going to be there.”

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