By CARLO ANOLIN
The fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and former UFC champion Conor Mc Gregor is “definitely” down the line.
It’s only a matter of when and a few contract issues before the megafight would be finalized.
Audie Attar of Paradigm Sports Management gave updates on what became the talk of the town this year, saying that both fighters expressed desire to face each other in the boxing ring.
Attar handles both Pacquiao and McGregor,
“As I’ve stated publicly before, we’ve had conversations,” Attar told Bloomberg TV. “That is a fight that we’re definitely going to make because both fighters want it. And there seems to be interest from the fans all around the world.”
But before the exhibition boxing match happens, McGregor will return to mixed martial arts action first, taking on Dustin Poirer in the UFC 257 main event on January 23 for a rematch in their September 2014 clash.
Another hurdle in question would be UFC chief Dana White, who hasn’t expressed any interest or followed up any updates regarding the Pacquiao-McGregor fight.
Paradigm and UFC have to make ends meet since McGregor is still under contract with the biggest MMA promotion.
This wasn’t the first time though that UFC and White let the Irish MMA star participate in a boxing match.
In August 2017, McGregor lost to boxing champion Floyd Mayweather in “The Money Fight” after a 10th round technical knockout. Fast forward to January this year, McGregor came back strong in the Octagon and finished Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds
Meanwhile, Pacquiao, who also yielded to Mayweather in 2015, last fought American Keith Thurman and won via split decision.
With almost a year and a half hiatus in boxing, Pacquiao’s name has been associated in the gaming community, particularly as the new ambassador of hit multiplayer online battle arena mobile game “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang” and the star of the upcoming 2.5-D sports-adventure game “FIGHTING PRIDE: The Manny Pacquiao Saga.”
