Manny Pacquiao would step into the boxing ring with Conor McGregor

The biggest ongoing story in combat sports today surrounds the possibility of a mega-fight between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and retired boxing great Floyd Mayweather. Over the course of the last year, there have been ceaseless headlines about this bout. After UFC President Dana White made Mayweather what he called a “real offer” of $25 million earlier this month, buzz about this prospective battle reached new heights.

Of course, Mayweather is not the only boxer keen on welcoming McGregor to the boxing ring, he’s simply the most high-profile to do so. McGregor has also been challenged by boxers like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Amir Khan, and Paul Malignaggi.

Now, it sounds like we can add the great Manny Pacquiao to the ever-growing list of boxers who would be willing to welcome the MMA megastar to the ring.

In a recent interview Fox Sports News 500, Pacquiao weighed in on all the Mayweather vs. McGregor buzz.

“I don’t know if they are taking it seriously,” Pacquiao said of this possible Mayweather vs. McGregor fight. “It’s on the news but I don’t know if it will happen.” 

The Filipino star then explained that he’d be willing to welcome McGregor to the boxing ring if Mayweather doesn’t, but that he wouldn’t fight him in the UFC’s Octagon.

In boxing [I would] but not in [the UFC], just boxing,” he said.

Finally, Pacquiao gave his take on how McGregor would fair against boxing’s best.

“I didn’t see it [footage of Conor sparring],” he said. “But if we are talking about Conor McGregor and boxing, it’s different. Boxing is different than MMA.”

And would McGregor survive against Mayweather? Pacquiao isn’t so sure.

“I don’t think so,” he said.