Manny Pacquiao might’ve moved a step close to fighting Conor McGregor.
The Filipino icon signed with the management firm Paradigm Sports, which already has McGregor as a client. He had announced in February that he agreed to a deal with the Irvine, Calif., company but evidently hadn’t signed a contract.
Pacquiao revealed the news on Twitter.
“Excited to have officially partnered with @ParadigmSports. Grateful for the support of my family, team, and fans as I continue my professional boxing journey. Big Things coming! Stay tuned!” he said.
McGregor retweeted the message on his account.
The MMA star, who fought Floyd Mayweather in 2017, tweeted last month that he would be fighting Pacquiao in the Middle East, although he didn’t say when or where.
An aide to Pacquiao responded by saying that the future Hall of Famer would indeed fight McGregor, with the bulk of proceeds going toward coronavirus relief in the Philippines. And Pacquiao himself later said he is open to the fight, although he wants to co-promote it.
Excited to have officially partnered with @ParadigmSports 🥊👊🏼Grateful for the support of my family, team, and fans as I continue my professional boxing journey. Big things coming! Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/bawoPAGv4H
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) October 11, 2020
McGregor is expected to face MMA rival Dustin Poirier before he meets Pacquiao, which means the latter fight almost certainly would take place next year.
Pacquiao, 42, last fought in July of last year, when he outpointed Keith Thurman to win a welterweight title. Contender Mikey Garcia, like Pacquiao a small 147-pounder, was thought to be a leading candidate to face him next.
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