Manny Pacquiao Confirms 2021 Fight With Conor McGregor

Some of the money raised will go to coronavirus relief efforts in the Philippines

Manny Pacquiao Welcomed By Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso
Boxing legend and Filipino Senator Manny Pacquiao is welcomed by Manila City mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso in 2019.
George Calvelo/NurPhoto via Getty Images

When it comes to boxing, 2021 looks to be a year to remember. That’s the impression one can get after hearing boxer Manny Pacquiao confirm that he’ll be fighting Conor McGregor next year. The information comes from Pacquiao’s own office and, according to a Reuters report, was quickly confirmed via McGregor on Twitter. McGregor’s tweet also suggested that the bout would take place somewhere in the Middle East.

According to the article, a portion of the proceeds from the fight will go to benefit coronavirus relief efforts in the Philippines — a country which has been hit hard by the global pandemic.

According to Jayke Joson, Pacquiao’s special assistant, negotiations to get the bout set up are currently underway. Earlier this year — before COVID-19 reshaped the landscape of large public events — a Business Insider article suggested that a Pacquiao/McGregor fight could be a way for Pacquiao to end his boxing days.

The comments made by Joson around the future bout certainly suggested that it would be the end of an era. Joson said that both fighters are “getting ready for this one epic last boxing fight.”

It’s not hard to see the appeal of this fight: besides their skill in the ring, both men have outsized personalities and — more worryingly — a penchant for controversy. Will this be the sporting event of the year or something else entirely? Stay tuned.

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