Conor McGregor said Friday afternoon on Twitter that he is “boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.”
According to McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, who also represents Pacquaio, McGregor is in serious talks to fight the boxing legend, although the fight isn’t a done deal.
The McGregor-Pacquiao match would take place in late December or early January, Attar said. The Middle East is one of a few locations being discussed to host the fight, he added.
Attar recently told ESPN he had talks with the UFC about McGregor’s future. On Friday, he said McGregor fighting Pacquiao in a boxing match was, in fact, one of the topics discussed; according to Attar, the UFC was on board with the idea.
In 2017, the UFC co-promoted a McGregor boxing match versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. along with Mayweather Promotions, Showtime and McGregor Sports & Entertainment. That fight fight ended up being one of the highest-grossing combat sports events of all time.
A specific weight for this proposed bout hasn’t been determined, per Attar, but he said he was confident the fight would take place in the coming months.
Following the Pacquiao fight, Attar said the plan was for McGregor to return to the UFC in 2021.
McGregor, who also expressed frustration with his lack of activity this year, hasn’t fought since his 40-second TKO win over Donald Cerrone in January.