MCGREGOR WANTS TO FIGHT PACQUIAO AND MAYWEATHER
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Jan 2020
Conor McGregor has a scheduled MMA fight against Cowboy Donald Cerrone on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. But McGregor is already announcing his options for his next opponents which includes a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and negotiations with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
* * *
“I would be open to other boxing bouts. You know, Manny (Pacquiao). We’re actually close to signing Manny,” McGregor told Ariel Helwani in his ESPN MMA show on YouTube on Monday. He said that there were talks regarding the fight with Senator Pacquiao. "There’s been an offer made on (a bout against Pacquiao). There’s just negotiations going on."
* * *
The former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion clarified he wants to box multiple times. “I want to box again. I will box again. I will get a boxing world title.” He likes to have a rematch with Mayweather Jr. " I’d like to rematch Floyd,” McGregor reiterated. “I think we should rematch Floyd. He’s flirting with [a comeback] and doing all this, he can go and pick someone else, it’s not going to be the same.”
* * *
Before 14,623 spectators, not a a sell-out though, Mayweather won by TKO in the 10th round on August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. At the time of stoppage, the scorecards were 87–83, 89–82, and 89–81 all in favor of Mayweather.
* * *
The bout was fought at super welterweight (154 pounds) division with 8 oz. gloves. Showtime announced that the fight recorded the second highest pay-per-view buys at 4.3 million. Mayweather-Pacquiao still tops with 4.6 million buys and over $410 million in revenue.
* * *
Dana White praised McGregor for connecting 111 punches of 430 thrown for 26% accuracy on Mayweather, which was more than what Pacquiao landed in his fight against Mayweather, called The Fight of the Century, and more than any of Mayweather's previous nine opponents. Mayweather was more accurate though, landing 170 of 320 punches thrown for 53% accuracy.
* * *
McGregor said he had "done phenomenal in that bout" with Mayweather but he lost that bout because he prepared for a back-footed, Philly-shell style of opponent. “Then, he came forward and started pressing, and I wasn’t sinking into my shots like I am now with my boxing coaches that are drilling specific boxing things into me again," McGregor said. “I know I’d beat Floyd. I’d beat Floyd if we rematched - when we rematch."
* * *
After the McGregor fight, Mayweather was quoted by BBC Sports: "This was my last fight. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, for sure I chose the right dance partner to dance with. Conor McGregor, you are a hell of a champion."
* * *
The undefeated American world champion added: "He's a tough competitor and I think we gave the fans what they wanted to see. I owed them for the Pacquiao fight. I must come straight ahead and give the fans a show, and that's what I gave them." McGregor told reporters the fight was stopped too early, but respected the decision and conceded that he was tired.
* * *
The Dublin, Ireland native is the biggest pay-per-view (PPV) draw in MMA history, having starred in five out of the six highest-selling UFC pay-per-view events. His fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 earned 2.4 million PPV buys, the highest ever for an MMA event.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
Tue, 17 Mar 2026700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 17 Mar 2026United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Mon, 16 Mar 2026Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 16 Mar 2026Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
Sun, 15 Mar 2026WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
Sun, 15 Mar 2026John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 15 Mar 2026Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
Sun, 15 Mar 2026Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
Sun, 15 Mar 2026Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 15 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
Sat, 14 Mar 2026Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 14 Mar 2026Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 14 Mar 2026