Conor McGregor has given the strongest indication yet that he will fight Manny Pacquiao this year.
The UFC star, who is scheduled to face Dustin Poirier in a mixed martial arts bout on Jan. 24, is in negotiations with the iconic welterweight beltholder for what would be a lucrative a boxing match.
McGregor has said he wants to win a major boxing title. He was stopped by Floyd Mayweather in his only boxing match, in 2017.
“I know that talks are intensifying for [a fight against Pacquiao] this year,” McGregor told his website The Mac Life. “I am excited for a Manny Pacquiao bout and it looks like it will happen this year. What time this year? I am not sure.
“We’ll have to have some good discussions with Dana White and the UFC and see where it goes. I am open to it all, ready for it all. I will certainly attain a boxing world title before I call it a day. And I would be excited to do that against Emmanuel Pacquiao.”
Pacquiao and his handlers also have made it clear that he’s interested in meeting McGregor in what would be a lucrative pay-per-view fight.
“Right now I want to experience fighting in MMA,” Pacquiao told the Filipino outlet BusinessMirror, which was a reference to McGregor.
Pacquiao, 42, last fought in July 2019, when he defeated Keith Thurman by a split decision to win his 147-pound belt.
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