Manny Pacquiao wants to fulfill the fight fans’ craving for high-octane action as he floated the idea of facing mix-martial arts star Connor McGregor in a boxing match next year.
In his social media account, Pacquiao teased sports fans with an intriguing greeting meant for McGregor.
“Stay fit my friend,” wrote Pacquiao, who turns 39 on Dec. 17.
A Team Pacquiao member told the Bulletin that such a mouthwatering matchup is being eyed for 2018.
“Hopefully it happens,” said David Sisson, a close aide of the fighting senator, texted yesterday.
Putting Pacquiao and McGregor together no longer seems unthinkable as Floyd Mayweather had met and defeated McGregor last August.
Mayweather stopped McGregor late in their fight after the UFC legend gassed out.
Pacquiao hasn’t fought since being upset by Jeff Horn for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown last July in Brisbane, Australia.
They were supposed to fight in a rematch but Pacquiao withdrew, citing his hectic Senate schedule.
McGregor has yet to issue a statement regarding Pacquiao’s challenge although it lit up the Internet as soon as it came out.
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, however, has a different proposal.
“If he (Pacquiao) still wants to fight, he can fight in March or April and then come back in August to fight the winner of the Horn versus Terrence Crawford fight (that takes place in early-2018),” said Arum, who will be in Australia on Dec. 13 to watch Horn defend against Gary Corcoran of England.