Conor McGregor reveals sensational plans to fight Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East

Conor McGregor has made sensational claims he will fight Manny Pacquiao in a blockbuster clash in the Middle East.

The retired UFC star released a flurry of tweets on Friday night as he tried to explain the reasoning behind his decision to walk away from the sport earlier this summer, and even showed private Instagram messages between him and Dana White. 

McGregor was keen to fight on several cards but revealed that he decided to announce his retirement – his third in just four years – when the coronavirus pandemic hit after being told he would have to wait until fans could return.

Conor McGregor has claimed he will fight Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East

McGregor made the claims during a rant on social media about his decision to quit the UFC

WBA world champion Pacquiao has been linked with fighting McGregor for some time

The Irishman then went on to write: ‘Anyway all water under the bridge who gives a fook. I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East.’

It is often wise to take what McGregor has to say with a pinch of salt but this crossover fight has been talked about for some time and would generate serious interest.

McGregor and Pacquiao are two of the biggest fighting stars worldwide with the former the first ever UFC champion to hold two belts in different divisions simultaneously and the latter a eight-weight world boxing champion.

Pacquiao last fought in July 2019, defeating Keith Thurman to win the WBA world welterweight title while McGregor obliterated Donald Cerrone in his comeback UFC fight in January. 

McGregor has famously switched codes before, when he lost to Floyd Mayweather in a money-spinning boxing fight back in August 2017 and has since regularly spoken about his desire to return to the ring again.

It was only last month that McGregor, who recently posted footage of him shadow boxing on social media, suggested a fight between the pair was on when he tweeted ‘accepted’ in Tagalog – the language of the Philippines. 

Pacquiao has a huge following in the Middle East and plans were being put in place for him to fight there next against Terrence Crawford or another pound-for-pound star before the pandemic threw a spanner in the works.

It is not clear if McGregor’s claims have any truth to them but Pacquiao and his team would have no doubts they could easily defeat the Irishman in a ring.

Only last month, Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach, Justin Fortune said: ‘Manny will destroy Conor McGregor inside three rounds.

‘He will obliterate him too fast and too strong as an amazing fighter. McGregor is nothing.’