Retirement must be looming for Manny Pacquiao.
Having just turned 39 years of age and with his sharpness dwindling with each passing fight, Pacquiao should seriously consider hanging up his gloves before it’s too late.
And it would appear that the Filipino fighting legend is eager for one more monster payday before getting out of dodge.
The interest in a rematch with Floyd Mayweather is almost non-existent considering the quality of their long-awaited initial meeting in 2015 but Pacquiao seems to be taking a page out of the ‘Money’ book by pursuing a fight with the biggest draw in combat sports.
Conor McGregor stands alone as the most reliable pay-per-view cash-cow and, having watched Mayweather ride off into the sunset with the easiest $300 million he ever earned, Pacquiao wants to do something similar.
Last month, ‘Pac-man’ put his name forward for a clash with McGregor in 2018 and despite the legal threats from UFC President Dana White, Pacquiao continues to push for the fight.
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UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, whose half-brother Michael Buffer is a boxing hall-of-famer, has revealed that Pacquiao is so desperate to see the McGregor fight come to fruition that he’s had his team personally reach out to the veteran voice of the Octagon.
“All respect to Manny Pacquiao, one of my favorite boxers of all time. I think for me personally, the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight was the fight that we all enjoyed and got $100 worth of entertainment. I would rather see Conor get back to MMA, it excites me much more,” Buffer told TMZ Sports.
“Let’s see a boxer fight under MMA rules and fight Conor in the Octagon, and it might be another tremendously huge payday. And honestly if you know Manny Pacquiao and you know about his training and his background… who knows? It could be a possibility, you never know. That, to me, would be a mega-fight. Stepping in the Octagon. Conor has already stepped into the squared ring. Maybe its time for someone with major status in boxing to step into the Octagon.
“I’ve had some of Manny’s friends call me and say, ‘Can you talk to Conor’s management?’ I’ve had that happen over the last six months. It’s not my position to do that. I told them, ‘You guys know who to call — call the right people.’ Money talks and people walk.”
Dana White has recently insisted that his organisation is in talks to have Mayweather compete under MMA rules although the 50-0 boxer was quick to rubbish those claims.
‘The Notorious’ remains adamant that he will return to the UFC for his next outing, rather than take to the ring again, but his opponent remains unknown with the likes of Tony Ferguson, Nate Diaz and Max Holloway all intriguing options for the Irishman.
