MMA

UFC star Conor McGregor has declared he WILL step back inside the squared circle this year to face WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
The 32-year-old – who is preparing for his rematch against Dustin Poirier on January 23 – has stated he is desperate to win a boxing world title before he retires.

Conor McGregor has spoken of his desire to face Manny Pacquiao in 2021

McGregor last competed in boxing in August 2017 when he was stopped by Floyd Mayweather in the tenth round.
The Notorious’ boxing coach Phil Sutcliffe revealed earlier this week that there is an ’85-90 per cent chance’ he will fight Pac Man after his bout against Poirier.
And now McGregor has further fuelled speculation that the pair will pit their wits against each other in 2021.
The match-up could be easy to make as both McGregor and Pacquiao, the current WBA welterweight champ, represented by Paradigm Sports Management.

Speaking to his personal website, The Mac Life, about the possibility of facing the 42-year-old, he said: “I know that talks are intensifying for [a fight] this year.
“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.

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McGregor could face Pacquiao after his rematch against Manny Pacquiao on January 23Credit: Getty Images – Getty

“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.”
Earlier this week, Pacman also fanned the flames by claiming he’d rather fight the Crumlin superstar over Errol Spence.
Reported by Business Mirror, he said: “He is too slow (Spence). Spence is slower than Thurman.
“They [Spence/McGregor] are my options, but right now I want to experience fighting an MMA [fighter].”

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RYAN GARCIA hinted he would be willing to make a switch to MMA in order to fight UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
McGregor made the move into boxing in 2017, losing in a lucrative crossover match with Floyd Mayweather.

Ryan Garcia hinted he would switch to MMA to fight UFC’s Conor McGregorCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Conor McGregor is in talks with Manny Pacquiao

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Now, the Irishman wants to try his luck again with ‘talks intensifying’ to fight Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao.
Garcia was then brought into the conversation after a fan urged him to box McGregor, but the American Golden Boy fancies a crack in the cage.
He tweeted: “Imagine one day I don’t box Connor (sic) but I face him in MMA haha that would be crazy.”

Garica has talked up a transition into MMA before, even claiming he would knock out McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis.

But, for now the unbeaten 22-year-old looks set to chase a grudge match with Gervonta Davis.
Davis, 26, has accepted the fight, with Garcia happy to snub his mandatory shot at Devin Haney’s WBC belt in order to face Floyd Mayweather’s protege.
Looking further ahead, Garcia is also ready to rival McGregor in the pursuit to fight PacMan.

It comes with the eight-division champion, 42, previously admitting he only has two fights left before retirement.

Garcia told eNews: “With Manny, it’s like he’s the Legend. It would be like passing it down to me in the most humbling way.
“I don’t want it to come out as disrespectful. If I were to beat Manny Pacquiao, he passes it on. I take whatever he did I try to push it.”
“Manny knows my respect for him. “People love Manny because he fights with his heart.
“He does it to inspire people. You don’t even have to tell people to respect him. They do as he has more than a country supporting him.”

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UFC star Conor McGregor has declared he WILL step back inside the squared circle this year to face WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
The 32-year-old – who is preparing for his rematch against Dustin Poirier on January 23 – has stated he is desperate to win a boxing world title before he retires.

Conor McGregor has spoken of his desire to face Manny Pacquiao in 2021

McGregor last competed in boxing in August 2017 when he was stopped by Floyd Mayweather in the tenth round.
The Notorious’ boxing coach Phil Sutcliffe revealed earlier this week that there is an ’85-90 per cent chance’ he will fight Pac Man after his bout against Poirier.
And now McGregor has further fuelled speculation that the pair will pit their wits against each other in 2021.
The match-up could be easy to make as both McGregor and Pacquiao, the current WBA welterweight champ, represented by Paradigm Sports Management.

Speaking to his personal website, The Mac Life, about the possibility of facing the 42-year-old, he said: “I know that talks are intensifying for [a fight] this year.
“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.

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McGregor could face Pacquiao after his rematch against Manny Pacquiao on January 23Credit: Getty Images – Getty

“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.”
Earlier this week, Pacman also fanned the flames by claiming he’d rather fight the Crumlin superstar over Errol Spence.
Reported by Business Mirror, he said: “He is too slow (Spence). Spence is slower than Thurman.
“They [Spence/McGregor] are my options, but right now I want to experience fighting an MMA [fighter].”

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CONOR McGREGOR’S boxing coach revealed there is an ’85-90 per cent chance’ he fights Manny Pacquiao after rematching Dustin Poirier.
McGregor marks his return to action on January 23, facing Poirier, who he beat in 2014, on Fight Island in the UFC 257 headliner.

Conor McGregor pictured with coach Phil Sutcliffe, middle Credit: Instagram / @dylanmrann

Manny Pacquiao has been in talks to fight Conor McGregor Credit: Getty Images – Getty

But already there is speculation about what the Irishman will do next, with the prospect of fighting Pacquiao looming large.
Phil Sutcliffe, who is in charge of McGregor’s boxing, is confident the former two-weight UFC champion will return to the ring after his rematch with Poirier.
Sutcliffe told ESPN: “85-90 per cent chance, maybe April, March.
“March, April or May. I’d like him to be in a boxing camp for at least two months, eight weeks.

“I mean, he’s fit now, he’s going to train straight after the fight. He’s gonna take probably a week off.
“I told him take a week off. Don’t worry, if he wants to take a week off, he can, then go straight back on the horse.
“We don’t want him out gallivanting too much, but he has to enjoy the win, he has to enjoy the win, enjoy the contest.”
McGregor, 32, put his UFC career on hold in 2017 to make a lucrative boxing debut, losing to Floyd Mayweather, 43, in ten rounds.

But he did so without the help of Sutcliffe, who was the first man ever to train the future superstar.
The pair linked up again in 2019, and in McGregor’s last fight – for the first time in the UFC – Sutcliffe was in the corner.
In September, The Notorious first announced talks were underway with himself and 42-year-old Pacquiao.
But the UFC managed to convince the southpaw to commit his future to the octagon, where he will face Poirier, 31, at lightweight.
McGregor’s manager Audi Attar, who also represents Pacquiao, confirmed he plans to match his two clients against each other this year.

Conor McGregor made his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather Credit: AP:Associated Press

Manny Pacquiao pictured with manager Audi Attar – who is also McGregor’s managerCredit: Instagram @audieattar
But it was met with strong reluctance from UFC president Dana White, who has urged McGregor to forget boxing and focus on MMA in 2021.
White said: “A boxing match with any of these guys, that stuff’s always going to be there.
“You are the absolute best in the world right now in MMA and the timing is right now. Not getting any younger.
“I’d love to see him go for it here over the next year. If he wants to fight one of these boxing guys, do that next year.
“That fight’s always going to be there.”

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CONOR McGREGOR would be given the green light to fight for a world title in BOXING as long as he defeats a ranked WBC contender.
McGregor made his lucrative ring debut in 2017, losing to Floyd Mayweather in ten rounds

Conor McGregor during his boxing debut with Floyd Mayweather Credit: Rex Features

Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor pictured in 2017 next to the WBC’s ‘Money’ belt Credit: AP:Associated Press

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The WBC helped sanction the crossover spectacle, even putting up a ‘Money’ belt for the occasion.
But with McGregor last year revealing that he envisions winning a title for real in boxing, he has been handed hope of achieving his audacious goal.
All the Irishman has to do is claim a victory over a contender rated in the top 15 by the WBC, as the sanctioning body will take into account his prior accolades in the UFC.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told SunSport: “I would say, he needs to face and defeat a ranked fighter, then he would be eligible to be ranked and to compete for a title.
“Because, we have plenty of examples of Muay Thai fighters, who turn professional in international boxing, and they are eligible to fight for the title.
“We also have amateur superstars like Vasiliy Lomachenko, they come into professional boxing and fight for the title and it’s proven it works.”
Masterful Ukrainian Lomachenko – who left the amateurs with a 396-1 record – won the WBO belt in only his second pro bout.

And the WBC have a long history of Thai Boxing champions switching over to the sweet science with great success, like Samart Payakaroon who reigned in both sports.

Conor McGregor revealed he wants to win a world title in boxing

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With McGregor’s history as the UFC’s top attraction, as well as 19 knockouts in his 22 wins, the southpaw would be equally entitled to a shot at the famous green and gold WBC belt.
Sulaiman said: “If he is to start boxing and proves with victories in boxing then he should certainly be given the opportunity to fight for a world title.
“We, in the WBC, consider the amateur career as one of the criteria for rankings.
“And, for example Muay Thai, in Thailand, we consider that career also when they enter into boxing.
“So, Conor has a mixed martial arts resume, so if he comes into boxing and wins a fight against a ranked fighter, he would be eligible to be ranked.
“This is not a rookie entering the sport, he has a long history of combat sports, so it’s a different scenario of what it used to be in the past.”
McGregor, 32, won early rounds against Mayweather, 43, before tiring as the 50-0 icon took over down the stretch.

Conor McGregor was beaten in ten rounds by Floyd Mayweather Credit: Getty Images – Getty

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman with Floyd Mayweather Credit: Reuters
Despite defeat, it has not stopped him from calling for a rematch, and even entering talks to face Manny Pacquiao, 42, in the future.
For now, though, McGregor is focussing on his octagon return, as he rematches Dustin Poirier, 31, on January 23.
But Sulaiman believes the former two-weight UFC champion has the tools necessary to reach the pinnacle of boxing – but has to prove it against a worthy contender first.
He said: “What we saw with Mayweather was of course different with the times, the rounds, it is not the same to fight five rounds to then go 12 rounds.
“But he has ability, he has power, he has status as a fighter.
“But, to compete and become a world champion in the WBC, he would need to fight in boxing and by merit be ranked. Then, he would be in the position to challenge.
“I don’t know what weight category he would be, but definitely he would need to get a decisive win against a quality opponent to be considered to be ranked.”

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