It looks like Manny Pacquiao is setting his eyes on opponents outside the boxing ring. According to recent reports, the former WBO welterweight champion is currently undergoing initial talks with UFC lightweight champion Connor McGregor for a prospective fight.
If all plans go well, the prospective fight between the UFC giant and boxing legend would take place in April next year, during the lengthy recess of the Philippine Senate of which Pacquiao is a member. "If we can negotiate it, I have no problem. It is OK with both of us," Pacquiao told news wire service AFP, via Yahoo.com.
When asked by AFP whether the talks with McGregor's representatives are true, Pacquiao said, "Initially, but we have not yet had any follow-up conversations."
Still, Pacquiao stressed that whether or not McGregor agrees with the negotiations, he is just one of the opponents being considered by the boxer. "It depends who they can finalize as my opponent by April," he added.
This isn't the first time McGregor is going to fight with a boxer inside the ring. Last August, McGregor was defeated via Total Knock-Out on the 10<sup>th round with his fight against Floyd Mayweather. Still, the fight was not a total loss for the UFC giant. The Mayweather-McGregor fight was said to draw in 6.7 million pay-per-view buys around the world, earning him around $100 million.
However, UFC President Dana White is not happy with all of the recent claims. At the UFC Fight Night 123 post-fight press conference, White threatened Manny Pacquiao if his team decides to push the said fight.
"That would be weird, because (McGregor's) under contract with us," reacted White when asked about Pacquiao's statement. "If that's true, I will be suing Manny Pacquiao and whoever is representing him."
Pacquiao's latest fight was with Australian Jeff Horn back in July in Brisbane, Australia, when he was stripped of his title via a controversial unanimous decision by the judges. A potential fight in April next year would definitely take him back into the spotlight, and if his fight with McGregor comes to pass, the UFC giant will also have the chance to amend his failed boxing debut.
