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Ultimate Fighting Championship
Martial ArtsMixed Martial Arts

Conor McGregor says he was ‘close’ to signing Manny Pacquiao bout and wants a boxing world title

  • McGregor says there were ongoing negotiations after an offer was made to fight Pacquiao
  • The Irishman intends to fight for a boxing world title in the future

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Conor McGregor poses ahead of his return at UFC 246. Photo: Instagram
Andrew McNicol

Conor McGregor has revealed he and his team were “close” to signing a boxing bout offer with Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

The Irish UFC star (professional MMA record 21-4), who will make his mixed martial arts comeback against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 this weekend, told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani he loves boxing and wants to fight for a world title in future.

“We were actually close to signing Manny. Me and Manny, there’s been talks about the fight. There was an offer made on that … just not yet,” said the 31-year-old McGregor, whose only crossover to boxing was the infamous loss to Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

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“It’s very much so [a possibility in future] … there were negotiations going on.”

The 41-year-old Pacquiao (professional boxing record 62-7-2), who has also lost to Mayweather, is on somewhat of a career resurgence having defeated Keith Thurman and Adrien Broner last year.

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