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Conor McGregor at the Grammy Awards in January
Photo: VALERIE MACON / AFP
Conor McGregor wants to return from retirement for a fight against Manny Pacquiao.
The mixed martial arts star from Ireland challenged the Filipino boxing legend - and Pacquiao accepted.
"For all Filipino Covid-19 victims, Manny Pacquiao will fight UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year," said Pacquiao's assistant Jayke Joson.
The negotiations are still ongoing.
Pacquiao wants to donate part of his bonus to the people in his homeland who have been hit by the pandemic.
Pacquiao's promoter Sean Gibbons had previously told the AFP news agency that although there were corresponding mind games, there was still no agreement.
"I'm boxing against Manny Pacquiao in the Middle East," wrote McGregor on Twitter last Friday.
"It would be a great honor to face two of the greatest boxers of the modern age."
McGregor lost a spectacular fight against former boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather three years ago.
Outside the cage, however, the athlete repeatedly attracted negative attention.
He was most recently interrogated on the island of Corsica last week on suspicion of indecent exposure and attempted sexual assault.
McGregor's attorney said his client "vigorously denies any allegations of bad behavior".
The 32-year-old had already resigned several times, but also returned again and again.
In June he announced for the third time that he would retire from martial arts.
He had already promised a fight against boxing king Pacquiao in January after his comeback from his second resignation.
Pacquiao, who won world championships in seven weight classes in his career, is considered a folk hero in the Philippines and has had a seat in the Senate of the Southeast Asian island state since May 2016.
The 41-year-old was last in the ring in July 2019, when he won the WBA welterweight title against Keith Thurman, who was ten years his junior.
Pacquiao will probably not be frightened by the fact that McGregor is also nine years younger.
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