It looks like Conor McGregor is not yet set to come back to the Octagon. Reports from Jim White say that negotiations with Manny Pacquiao have begun and that April is the target date.
McGregor, who is 0-1 in the boxing ring, recently stated that he’s transcended MMA and boxing and that fighters must “lobby” to fight him.
In the boxing world, reports tonight Manny Pacquiao -39 later this month – has confirmed he's opened talks to fight Conor McGregor in April next year.
— Jim White (@JimWhite) December 8, 2017
Report: Conor McGregor and Manny Pacquiao Boxing Match in Negotiations for April
Tony Ferguson, the UFC’s interim lightweight champion, recently had elbow surgery. As such, we will not see Ferguson in the Octagon anytime soon. McGregor is often criticized for not defending the belts he’s won. He failed to defend the featherweight title, which he won from Jose Aldo and was stripped. He also has yet to defend the lightweight strap.
Pacquiao, who is coming off a controversial loss to Jeff Horn in July of this year, looks to rebound. A boxing batch with McGregor is bound to be a huge payday for both fighters. Both men’s bouts versus Floyd Mayweather rank number one and two all-time versus the legend, totalling roughly 9-million buys combined.
McGregor likely to be stripped again…
The Irish bad boy will likely be stripped of his lightweight title in the UFC. That would elevate the current interim champ, Ferguson to undisputed lightweight champion. UFC President Dana White said after McGregor fought Mayweather, he would defend his belt at lightweight. With Georges St-Pierre vacating his title at middleweight just 31 days after defeating Michael Bisping, the pressure will be on from UFC fans for McGregor to vacate the lightweight belt that’s he’s managed to hold on to without defending for over a year.
McGregor also made headlines recently with his antics at a court hearing for a traffic ticket and for an alleged incident at a bar involving the Irish Mob.
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Main Photo: LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 11: UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor changes in the locker room before the media workout at the UFC Performance Institute on August 11, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing match at T-Mobile Arena on August 26 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
