Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has made it clear which MMA superstar he’d prefer to face in the ring, and his reasoning is as straightforward as his legendary left hook.
The Filipino icon confirmed he would choose Conor McGregor over Khabib Nurmagomedov, stating bluntly: “I want to shut his mouth.”
Speaking exclusively in an interview while in Manila for the Thriller in Manila 2 celebration, Pacquiao didn’t hold back when asked about potential crossover matches.
The boxing icon confirmed that a bout with McGregor is “possible also” and noted that IBA President Umar Kremlev has expressed interest in staging such a match in Russia. For Pacquiao, it would simply depend on whether he can “still fight.”
The contrast in Pacquiao’s view of the two MMA champions couldn’t be more stark. While McGregor draws his competitive fire, Pacquiao had nothing but praise for the undefeated Russian MMA star Nurmagomedov.
“He’s a nice guy. He’s a nice person, humble and that’s inspiration,” Pacquiao said, adding that Khabib serves as “a good role model for sports.”
The eight-division world champion was in Manila to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the iconic Thrilla in Manila and discuss his new role as vice president of the International Boxing Association.
In this capacity, Pacquiao aims to strengthen professional boxing and develop young fighters globally. “I’m so excited because I know that boxing is my passion,” he explained, expressing gratitude to Kremlev for the opportunity to give back to the sport.
As for his own boxing future, Pacquiao confirmed ongoing negotiations for a potential January return, with names like Rolando Romero and Vasyl Lomachenko being discussed. Perhaps most significantly, he revealed that talks are underway for the long-awaited Floyd Mayweather rematch.
“There’s an ongoing negotiation with Floyd,” Pacquiao confirmed, though he cautioned that announcements would only come if negotiations materialize.
