By Matt Lieberman: Superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao has signed with Paradigm Sports Management, which could lead to a mega-fight against former UFC champion Conor McGregor. This is the same company that the 31-year-old McGregor is to.
With Pacquiao now signed to a management deal with Paradigm Sports, it potentially brings closer a huge mega-fight between him and McGregor in a boxing match.
McGregor recently brought up Pacquiao’s name before his last fight against Donald Cerrone on January 18 at UFC 246. Now that McGregor and Pacquiao are aligned with the same management company, it makes putting a fight together easier.
“I am proud to partner with Paradigm Sports Management and am excited for the opportunities that Audie Attar and PSM have to offer,” Pacquiao said via themaclife.com. “One thing I want everyone to remember is to always think positively. Never think negatively; that is the beginning of your downfall. Everything is possible.”
McGregor fought boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a fight under boxing rules in 2017, and the contest pulled in an incredible 4.3 million pay-per-view buys. While it’s unknown how many buys a fight between McGregor and Pacquiao could bring in right now, it’s likely that would be a huge number.
Pacquiao’s fight against Mayweather in 2015 brought in 4.4 million buys. The Filipino star PPV fights since then haven’t been anywhere close to that number, but he’s not had the right name to interest fans in the last five years. McGregor could be that guy to bring in the fans for another successful pay-per-view bout.
Pacquiao hasn’t said anything wanting to face McGregor inside the octagon under MMA rules, but the size difference between the two might preclude that from happening.
“Me and Manny, there’s been talks about the fight. There was an offer made on that … just not yet,” McGregor said to ESPN. “It’s very much so [a possibility]…there were negotiations going on.”
Incredibly proud to announce that @ParadigmSM is officially representing Manny Pacquiao. I’d like to thank everyone involved in this, including our partners Arnold, Ping, Atty Brando, Jayke and the rest of Team Pacquiao back in Manila. Cannot wait to work together. #GP pic.twitter.com/EhS6b5jmdQ
— Audie A. Attar (@AudieAttar) February 11, 2020
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) isn’t giving up his boxing career. He still plans on fighting. If he does take the McGregor fight this year, it would just be one of the fights for him. Other possible options for Pacquiao in 2020 are fights against Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia or Errol Spence Jr. Those three are on the 41-year-old Pacquiao’s shortlist of opponents for this year.