Manny Pacquiao: I've reached out to Conor McGregor about April boxing match.
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao says he has reached out to UFC star Conor McGregorfor a potential boxing match in April.
Pacquiao, 38, hasn't fought since July. He surrendered his WBO welterweight title to Jeff Horn, in a controversial decision in Australia. He is considering a return to fighting in 2018.
Pacquiao told AFP that a fight between him and McGregor would be "OK with both of us." That said, Pacquiao indicated talks have not progressed very far at this point.
"Initially, but we have not yet had any follow-ups," said Pacquiao, when asked if there has been communication between the two camps.
"It depends who they can finalize as my opponent by April."
McGregor's camp did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Manny Pacquiao, who serves as a senator in his native Philippines, said he would be able to fight in April when he has a break from his legislative duties. John Gurzinski/Getty Images
An April fight between Pacquiao (59-7-2, 28 KOs) and McGregor (21-3) would seem like a long shot -- although the same was said about McGregor's fight against Floyd Mayweather.
McGregor, 29, hasn't defended his UFC lightweight championship since winning it in November 2016, and UFC president Dana White repeatedly has stated he's looking forward to McGregor getting back into the Octagon.
The Irish star is still under exclusive UFC contract, however the two sides have been in talks recently to restructure his deal, per multiple sources.
During a recent media appearance in Las Vegas, White said there is still no guarantee McGregor ever will fight again -- in boxing or the UFC.
"We were working on a fight for him at the end of the year, and he's just not ready," White said.
"We're still in that 'Conor might never fight again' [phase]. The guy's got a f---ing $100 million," he said. "I've got guys who have made less than that, who were lawyers their whole lives and quit working ... And fighting is the worst. Try to get up and get punched in the face for a living when you've got $100 million in the bank."
McGregor lost to Mayweather via TKO in the 10th round of their boxing match Aug. 26. The bout produced a live gate of $55 million, which is second only to the $72 million made at the 2015 contest between Mayweather and Pacquiao.
http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/...ays-reached-conor-mcgregor-april-boxing-match
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Brett OkamotoESPN Staff Writer
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao says he has reached out to UFC star Conor McGregorfor a potential boxing match in April.
Pacquiao, 38, hasn't fought since July. He surrendered his WBO welterweight title to Jeff Horn, in a controversial decision in Australia. He is considering a return to fighting in 2018.
Pacquiao told AFP that a fight between him and McGregor would be "OK with both of us." That said, Pacquiao indicated talks have not progressed very far at this point.
"Initially, but we have not yet had any follow-ups," said Pacquiao, when asked if there has been communication between the two camps.
"It depends who they can finalize as my opponent by April."
McGregor's camp did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Manny Pacquiao, who serves as a senator in his native Philippines, said he would be able to fight in April when he has a break from his legislative duties. John Gurzinski/Getty Images
An April fight between Pacquiao (59-7-2, 28 KOs) and McGregor (21-3) would seem like a long shot -- although the same was said about McGregor's fight against Floyd Mayweather.
McGregor, 29, hasn't defended his UFC lightweight championship since winning it in November 2016, and UFC president Dana White repeatedly has stated he's looking forward to McGregor getting back into the Octagon.
The Irish star is still under exclusive UFC contract, however the two sides have been in talks recently to restructure his deal, per multiple sources.
During a recent media appearance in Las Vegas, White said there is still no guarantee McGregor ever will fight again -- in boxing or the UFC.
"We were working on a fight for him at the end of the year, and he's just not ready," White said.
"We're still in that 'Conor might never fight again' [phase]. The guy's got a f---ing $100 million," he said. "I've got guys who have made less than that, who were lawyers their whole lives and quit working ... And fighting is the worst. Try to get up and get punched in the face for a living when you've got $100 million in the bank."
McGregor lost to Mayweather via TKO in the 10th round of their boxing match Aug. 26. The bout produced a live gate of $55 million, which is second only to the $72 million made at the 2015 contest between Mayweather and Pacquiao.
http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/...ays-reached-conor-mcgregor-april-boxing-match
