Manny Pacquiao confirms planning of fight against Conor McGregor in 2021

Manny Pacquiao hasn’t entered the boxing ring ever since his fight with Keith Thurman in 2019. He has entered into politics in Philippines as well but the rumours of his return to the boxing world have been doing the rounds of late.

Those rumours have now been confirmed as Pacquiao announced that he is indeed planning a fight with McGregor this year.

When this fight happens, it would be McGregor’s second venture into the world of boxing after he challenged Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

Pacquiao confirmed the developments to Business Mirror. He said that their discussion with the McGregor camp is going on but he also mentioned Errol Spence as a potential option.

“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],” Pacquiao said.

Interestingly, McGregor and Pacquiao are managed by the same firm and that should make it easier to strike a deal between the two parties.

Audie Attar, who manages both of these superstars, is confident that we will get to see them in the ring in 2021.

“I definitely believe it’s inevitable for 2021,” Attar said, speaking to Dubai Eye 103.8 Sport.

“Both fighters want it, that’s the key. You can’t make something happen or orchestrate it or choreograph it – which is the buzzword of this interview – you can’t fake that.

“If one side wants it and the other doesn’t, it’s not going to happen.

“But when both fighters want that fight to happen, why wouldn’t it happen?

“If the fans want to see it – that almost guarantees that it’s going to happen, right? As there’s enough interest to develop something there.”

However, McGregor needs to focus on the fight in front of him for now. He has a massive UFC clash scheduled with Dustin Poirier on January 23, at Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island.