Manny Pacquiao is looking to seal two fight dates in 2021 but if only one can be arranged, the boxing legend said he would prefer meeting Conor McGregor atop the ring. The 42-year-old said clashing with boxing champs Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. are in the cards but he favors a showdown with The Notorious.
A bout with either Crawford or Spence will mean Pacquiao has to defend his WBA welterweight title, which should be challenging enough for the eight-division world titleholder. Add to that, the two boxers are undefeated and the Pacman will likely want the honor of staining their clean records.
Still, Pacquiao said if he can only pick one fight next year, the easy choice would be an exhibition with McGregor. He explained that it would be a new experience for him as opposed to another boxing match.
"I want to experience to fight an MMA fighter," the fighting legislator told ABS-CBN.
Pacquiao's agenda makes sense as McGregor is widely considered as among the alpha warriors in the UFC arena. Also, the Irishman's immense popularity makes him the biggest draw in mixed martial arts.
As the top dog in the MMA world, McGregor attracted a huge following during his fights. His UFC matches were blockbusters and so was his lone professional boxing bout, which happened in 2017 against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The McGregor vs. Mayweather was a huge success with more than five million PPV buys worldwide. It was a losing first attempt for the MMA superstar but McGregor went home $100 million richer.
These facts about fighting an MMA artist appears to be the most thrilling for Pacquiao. Plus the prospect of him and McGregor having quite a pull on boxing and UFC fans, which should translate to record revenue for the mega-fight.
It is easy to see, according to Now Boxing, that Pacquiao is prioritizing his fight date with McGregor. It will be a money-spinner and both fighters will reap the immense financial benefits.
And Pacquiao listed McGregor on top because he has nothing to prove anymore in boxing. Time is no longer on the Filipino's side so he has to take advantage of his rapidly diminishing opportunities. It goes without saying that the ones that will bring the windfall will get his undivided attention.
Recently, the Filipino senator signed an agreement with the same outfit that manages the business affairs of McGregor. And that act further ensured that the Pacquiao vs. McGregor is definitely happening in 2021. It's only a matter of when.
It also means that Crawford and Spence will be waiting in line a little longer.
