MANNY PACQUIAO will fight Conor McGregor in the boxing ring – and the bookies don’t fancy the Irishman’s chances.
The quick turn-around was revealed today – with the epic clash set to be held in the Middle East around January.
Conor McGregor is the huge underdog in his fight with Manny PacquiaoCredit: AFP
How McGregor and Pacquiao stack up
McGregor had talked up a return to boxing after announcing he was quitting UFC in the summer – and last night teased that he was going to fight the Filipino legend.
Pacquiao wasted little time responding, and says cash from this fight will go towards the relief effort in the Philippines after Covid-19.
A statement from Pacquiao’s office read: “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.”
Now the date is in the diary for his next venture into the ring – and the bookies are already taking bets on it.
Notorious is the huge outsider for the showdown, priced at 4-1 with Coral.
While Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, is the 1-7 favourite for the win.
Coral’s John Hill said: “Conor McGregor shared the ring with one of the greatest boxers of all time in his boxing debut.
“He now looks set to meet another great of the sport in Manny Pacquiao where it would be a huge upset if he were to beat the eight-division world champion.
“McGregor was heavily backed to defeat Mayweather in the ‘Biggest Fight in Combat Sport History’ and we expect the Irishman to be popular again on his return to the boxing ring.”
McGregor previously fought Floyd Mayweather under Queensberry Rules in 2017, and was stopped in the tenth round.
He has been eyeing another dabble into boxing for some time now despite that defeat.
The star insists he has retired from UFC.
His last fight was a demolition job as he smashed Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds in January.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
