Conor McGregor Defies UFC Prexy, Adamant To Fight Manny Pacquiao

Conor McGregor may be fully focused on his upcoming UFC 257 fight against Dustin Poirier on Jan. 23 in Abu Dhabi, but he has not given up on goal of making a return to the boxing ring later this year.

McGregor has long been linked to a boxing match with Filipino fistic sensation Manny Pacquiao, and the Irishman assures his loyal followers that the encounter will go down sometime in 2021.

“It’s almost a certainty,” he stated, as quoted on Uproxx. “I’m hearing there are contracts and all coming. It’s that close. So, I don’t, I haven’t spoken—it should happen [in] 2021."

The Irishman revealed that there was a reason behind why he chose Poirier as his opponent in his much-awaited Octagon comeback this weekend.

"Like I said, I want to get my MMA game going a bit more as well. Look, I’m fighting Poirier who’s a southpaw, Manny’s a southpaw. I’ve been fighting professional boxers in the gym, sparring with southpaw boxers in the gym in preparation not just for Dustin but for Manny," he shared. "I’ve had shorter, 5’5 rockets coming at me, you know what I mean.”

"The Notorious" made his boxing debut in 2017, bowing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. by way of technical knockout in the 10th round.

McGregor’s insistence to redeem himself on the boxing stage will go against UFC president Dana White’s wishes as the company head honcho encouraged him to pin his whole focus on mixed martial arts.

With the entire lightweight title picture in limbo, White believes that McGregor is a running candidate to get a crack at the belt and regain his position as the division's kingpin.

“The way that this kid is right now mentally, physically, emotionally, I mean this kid is on and ready to fight,” White stated. “I would love to see him focused on what he can do here at the UFC. Whether it takes another shot at that title against Khabib [Nurmagomedov] or fight for the title against somebody else if Khabib retires and defend that title.”

“A boxing match with any of these guys, that stuff’s always going to be there. You are the absolute best in the world right now in MMA and the timing is right now. Not getting any younger," he added. "I’d love to see him go for it here over the next year. If he wants to fight one of these boxing guys, do that next year. That fight’s always going to be there."