Manny-Conor fight looms

IT LOOKS like Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and MMA superstar Conor McGregor are in for a collision course inside the boxing ring.

McGregor tweeted yesterday, Sept. 26, 2020 (PH time), that he’s fighting Pacquiao in the Middle East.

“I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East,” he said on Twitter.

According to a report by Ariel Helwani on ESPN, Audie Attar, who represents both Pacquiao and McGregor, confirmed that both camps are currently in negotiation, but it isn’t yet a done deal.

The fight will likely take place either in December 2020 or January 2021.

Pacquiao’s camp confirmed the rumors and released a statement yesterday.

“Our lawyers are finalizing all the confidential details, but both fighters are getting ready for this one epic last boxing fight,” Pacquiao’s statement read in a report posted at CNN.com.

According to the report, a huge portion of Pacquiao’s purse will be used to help in the Covid-19 response.

The 41-year-old Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, last saw action on July 20, 2019. He successfully defended his World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super belt with a split decision over Keith Thurman.

McGregor, a two-division UFC champion, made his pro boxing debut in 2017 against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. He lost to Mayweather Jr. via a 10th round stoppage.

Pacquiao is 62-7-2 with 39 knockouts, while 32-year-old McGregor is 0-1 in boxing but has a 22-4 record in MMA. (EKA)