McGregor, Pacquiao open talks for April 2018 fight
Pacquiao says he has opened talks with Conor McGregor for a big-money fight in April next year.
If we can negotiate it, I have no problem. It is OK with both of us. [Talks?] Initially, but we have not yet had any follow-up conversations.
Pacquiao: McGregor-Mayweather will be ‘boring’
Pacquiao, who is currently preparing for his WBO welterweight championship fight against Jeff Horn, says the McGregor-Mayweather fight will be ‘boring,’ and that he will be watching the ‘real’ boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin.
McGregor has no chance in this fight. In fact, it could be very boring. There is no way he will be able to land a meaningful punch on Floyd. How could he? He has no professional experience in boxing. The real fight and the best fight is Golovkin versus Canelo. The best versus the best. That’s the fight I will be watching.
He also says he is interested in a rematch with Mayweather if he beats Horn.
If there’s a chance, why not? I’m willing. I know my body. I’m ready. I’m not underestimating [Horn]. I’m not taking him lightly. I’m working hard.
Arum: Pacquiao ‘is there’ to fight McGregor if Mayweather fight falls through
Arum, Pacquiao’s manager, says that McGregor can fight his client if Mayweather negotiations break down, although he thinks a fight will happen is Dana White is persistent.
If McGregor is still looking for an opponent, Manny Pacquiao is there…[As for the Mayweather negotiations] Be patient, don’t give in. Dana’s a good negotiator, and he’ll get the thing done. But he can’t be pushed around by Mayweather and his people.
Ortiz: McGregor has ‘no chance’ against Mayweather or Pacquiao
When asked if he’d prefer to see McGregor fight Mayweather or Pacquiao, Ortiz says:
I want to see [McGregor] vs. Pacquiao. McGregor has no chance with either of those guys. That’s like comparing chess to checkers. Apples to oranges.
Lobov: McGregor will KO Pacquiao within two rounds
Lobov, McGregor’s training partner, says McGregor would beat Pacquiao should the Mayweather bout fall apart.
I think that’s a more realistic fight. I tell you one thing; before even Conor himself thought about fighting Mayweather, I was the one telling him that this is the fight to make. I was telling him that this is where this was going to go…I feel that Conor vs. Pacquiao is a good fight to make…I know Pacquiao will take the fight…I don’t want to disrespect Pacquiao, he’s a great fighter, but I think it would be quite an easy night for Conor. Pacquiao historically has done very bad with counter-punchers and Conor is one of the best counter-punchers on the planet. The range that he has on Pacquiao, he would just be hitting air the whole time. As fast as he is, it wouldn’t be any different. Conor’s footwork, his positioning, his elusiveness, his range — it would just be too much for Pacquiao. I feel that one would be over in one or two rounds.
Arum: McGregor fight ‘Easy for Manny’
Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, says a fight with McGregor would be an easy one for his client.
Conor McGregor is a good athlete and he is the best at MMA but MMA and boxing are two different sports. So it’s a lot of talk, everybody is having a lot of fun about it and sure Manny Pacquiao wants to fight Conor McGregor in boxing. Any boxer would like to fight Conor McGregor because they would knock him out.
Because Dana White has previously said that he will not deal with him, Arum also says that he would excuse himself from negotiations.
That’s Dana White, he needs an excuse, Dana is a good guy but it’s all playing around. [I would exclude myself from negotiations] Absolutely!
White will not talk to Pacquiao promoter about McGregor fight
White says he will not take calls from Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, about a McGregor fight.
Listen, I love Manny Pacquiao. But I don’t love Bob Arum. You can tell Arum to save his money and not make any calls over here because we aren’t doing business with him.
Pacquiao willing to fight McGregor
Pacquiao says he is open to fighting McGregor if the Mayweather fight doesn’t happen.
In boxing? In boxing [I would fight McGregor] but not in [UFC], just boxing. I didn’t see [footage of Conor sparring]. But if we are talking about Conor McGregor and boxing, it’s different. Boxing is different than MMA.
‘I don’t have to fight’
In answer to a question about whether he would fight Pacquiao again. Mayweather says:
A lot of fighters in the sport of boxing may want to retire, but they have to fight because they have to. I don’t have to fight. I just made $300 million for fighting Pacquiao. I’m OK. Like I said before, I’m happy with my position. Once again, the money don’t make me; I make money. I’m well off. I make smart moves, and like I said before, I’m happy with where my career has went.
When asked about his recent comments where he said he would return to the ring:
Different days, I say different things. Different days, I feel different ways. I feel different each day. Can Floyd Mayweather contradict himself? Absolutely. So that’s why I know when I contradict myself, it doesn’t mean I’m crazy. When someone puts up something I said in the past like, ‘Oh you said this, this day, well you said this, that day,’ I can contradict myself. I’m only human. I’m not perfect. God only made one thing perfect: my boxing record.
McGregor ‘no match for Floyd’ in boxing
Pacquiao says that McGregor cannot beat Mayweather in boxing.
McGregor is no match for Floyd because Floyd knows boxing. But if Floyd fight is McGregor’s sport it will go to McGregor.
Hey @FloydMayweather, if it's boxing @mannypacquiao is taking you. But in the Octagon he has @TheNotoriousMMA! pic.twitter.com/8p1cJ284Ti
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) September 8, 2016
Criticizes Pacquiao for skipping rehab
Arum criticizes the injured Pacquiao for missing a planned rehab visit in Los Angeles on July 4.and says he has no idea when the fighter might return to the ring:
As far as I`m concerned he’s not an active fighter and not been acting very professionally…Pacquiao was supposed to come over to see the doctor and for some reason he decided to cancel it.
Ready to fight in 2016
Pacquiao comments while on a trip to Indonesia:
I’m ready to fight, next year. I’m fine, I can lift it.
He also shows how his shoulder had improved by raising his right arm:
I’m fine, I can lift it.