Manny Pacquiao could still fight Conor McGregor amid a list of boxing welterweight stars hoping to face ‘Pac Man’

A boxing clash between Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor is still on the table. However, it does not seem like an immediate plan for both fighters, especially with a list of welterweight stars lining up to fight “Pac Man” before he retires.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Conor McGregor still in the works?

Speculations about Pacquiao and McGregor’s boxing match-up started circulating earlier this year when the latter said they were in talks to make the event happen. The odds of it taking place increased when it was reported that “Pac Man” signed with Paradigm SM, the same management that represents “Notorious.”

While McGregor has been a household name in the professional mixed martial arts scene, the Irish fighter also started a pro boxing career with only one fight under his name. He, however, lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via 10th-round TKO in 2017. Despite the result of his first-ever boxing match, McGregor is not done challenging legends of the sport such as Pacquiao.

McGregor’s manager Audie Attar reiterated that his return to the boxing ring is still in the pipeline. “As it relates to him fighting Manny or any other boxer in the future, that’s always a possibility,” Attar told MMAJunkie.

However, it seems like a not-closing-any-door kind of situation for McGregor at this point. Attar emphasized in the same interview that Notorious is more focused on fighting in MMA first before continuing his boxing career.

Manny Pacquiao retaliates to Floyd Mayweather’s ‘old man’ commented

McGregor might be really serious about wanting to face Pacquiao in a boxing ring, but it is not just his priority. This is what makes their fight quite unlikely because, first, Pacquiao is now 41 and many fans and analysts believe it is only a matter of time before he officially retires. Second, considering time is of the essence for Pacquiao, the Filipino fighter is more likely to prioritize fighting other boxing welterweight champs.

Pacquiao’s name has been attached to younger welterweight fights for the past several months. The likes of Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, Danny Garcia, and Mikey Garcia have been telling the press why they deserve to be Pac Man’s next opponent.

Meanwhile, Mayweather advised them they should prepare to fight one another instead of “[chasing] the old man.” Pacquiao naturally retaliated to Mayweather’s choice of words telling The Manila Times the undefeated American boxer was just “envious” and added that he has been training and has no plans to retire yet.