In a surprising turn of events, mixed martial arts icon Conor McGregor, who was recently at the Day of Reckoning: Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin heavyweight boxing event in Saudi Arabia has expressed his desire to step back into the boxing ring for a highly anticipated bout against none other than the legendary Filipino southpaw Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao. The potential clash between the two global sports superstars will generate interest from casuals who enjoy crossover boxing events, with McGregor eyeing Saudi Arabia as the venue for this blockbuster event in 2024.
Conor McGregor’s foray into the world of boxing is not new, as the Irish UFC star famously took on undefeated Floyd “Money” Mayweather in a much-hyped boxing bout in 2017. Despite a valiant effort in his pro boxing debut, McGregor succumbed to Mayweather’s expertise in the later rounds and was stopped in the 10th, but the crossover event drew enormous attention from both the MMA and boxing communities and sold over 4 million Pay-Per-View buys and generated millions for both fighters.
Now, McGregor seems eager for a boxing comeback, and the opponent of choice is none other than eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino boxing icon who lost to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in his last fight, has also ventured into politics in recent years but has not ruled out the possibility of stepping into the professional boxing ring for one more epic showdown.
While specific details about the potential McGregor vs. Pacquiao fight remain scarce, one element seems to be gaining traction—the choice of venue. McGregor has expressed a strong preference for Saudi Arabia, known for hosting high-profile sporting events in recent years, including heavyweight boxing bouts and Formula 1 races.
The allure of Saudi Arabia as a host for major sporting events stems from its state-of-the-art venues, financial incentives, and commitment to showcasing the kingdom as a global entertainment hub. McGregor’s choice of Saudi Arabia reflects the growing trend of the Middle Eastern nation securing top-tier sporting events, attracting global audiences and elevating its status on the world stage.
Not all fans are eager to see a showdown with a 45-year-old past prime boxer and a 35-year-old former UFC double champion who hasn’t won a fight since 2020. McGregor told heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora that he would want Pacquiao to move up in weight instead of trying to sap him down to 147-pounds. Pacquiao hasn’t fought above 147-pounds since he beat Antonio Margarito at a catchweight of 150-pounds for the WBC junior middleweight title back in 2010.
The potential clash between Conor McGregor and Manny Pacquiao is just talk at this point, but it isn’t out of the question especially with the allure of crossover boxing events taking over the sport.
Muki is a long time boxing fan and enjoys Mixed Martial Arts. He has been writing boxing articles since he was a teen and his favorite fighters of the past are Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Prince Naseem Hamed. Favorite MMA fighters are Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko.