Former UFC Champ Frankie Edgar Wants To Fight Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao is 54-5-2 in his boxing career. Reuters

Former UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar likes the idea of fighting Manny Pacquiao.

MMA and boxing is two different sports. However, it has been quite a norm for a UFC fighter to challenge a pro boxer since UFC star Conor McGregor managed to make the fight with Floyd Mayweather happen two years ago.

Just recently, Edgar, another UFC star has agreed to the idea of fighting a professional boxer. In fact, Edgar wants to fight a world-class champion – Pacquiao.

In a recent media scrum with Elie Seckbach of EsNews during the recent Dominance MMA Media day press conference, the former UFC champ named his all-time favorite boxers. According to Edgar, Mike Tyson and Juan Manuel Marquez are always fun to watch.

“(Mike) Tyson is always fun to watch growing up as a kid. Juan Manuel Marquez is someone I love watching,” Edgar said.

Edgar also admitted that at this point in his career, he is rooting for the “older guys” as he commended Pacquiao’s performance against the much younger Keith Thurman. “As I get older I found myself rootin’ for the older guys,” Edgar revealed.

And even though Edgar did not mention Pacquiao as one of his all-time favourites in boxing, he is open for a boxing match with the Filipino legend. He also believes that with the help of UFC president Dana White, a fight with Pacquiao will definitely be a blockbuster fight.

“I don’t know you know I really haven’t thought it up but I’m down. Pacquiao! Pacquiao will be a great (match),” Edgar said.

“With Dana (White) behind me we can sell a bunch,” Edgar added.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao could have a rematch next year. In this picture, Pacquiao throws a right at Mayweather during their welterweight unification championship bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2, 2015. Al Bello/Getty Images

Pacquiao has been looked up to by several UFC stars. A few weeks ago, former UFC star Cris Cyborg expressed his admiration towards Pacquiao’s lengthy career. According to Cyborg, aside from Muhammad Ali, Pacquiao is also one of the greatest boxers in her eyes and the way “Pacman” fought Thurman motivates her to pursue boxing in the future.

“I’m really happy watching him. He fight like young. And this motivates me,” Cyborg said about Pacquiao’s most recent performance against Keith Thurman.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao already confirmed that the much awaited rematch with Mayweather is already being discussed by both camps. When he visited Saudi Arabia, Pacquiao stated that things are being negotiated towards a formal discussion about the fight.

“My team and his team are talking right now. This is just about negotiations, about the formal discussions. So I don’t know what will happen,” Pacquiao stated.