MANILA – The camp of lawmaker and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao confirmed on Saturday that a match against Conor McGregor is being negotiated.
“Our lawyers are finalizing all the confidential details,” Jayke Joson, Pacquiao’s special assistant, said in a statement.
McGregor, one of the biggest names in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), first announced the bout through a tweet.
Joson added that Pacquiao’s paycheck for the bout, which may take place somewhere in the Middle East next year, will be given to those who are affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“The huge portion of his earnings will proceed to those who are affected nationwide by the pandemic,” Joson said.
He added that helping the Covid-19 patients has been the eight-division world boxing champion’s cause right now.
“Our beloved senator doesn’t want to talk about boxing since we are in the middle of the pandemic, and this is not the right time for it,” Joson said.
Pacquiao has been on a long layoff since his last bout, a split decision win over Keith Thurman on July 21, 2019, for the WBA welterweight super title.
McGregor, on the other hand, had the more recent fight, needing just 40 seconds to knock out Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 on Jan. 19 (Philippine Time).
McGregor’s boxing debut, a 2017 clash with Floyd Mayweather, ended in a 10th round knockout defeat.