By Abu Mahmood: Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2 39 KOs) has said he wants to fight twice in 2021. Pacquiao is the WBA champion at welterweight after he beat Keith Thurman (29-1-0 1NC 22 KOs) for the title with a great performance.

Pacquiao said he wants to fight twice this year; that could have meant he fought any of the top guys at welterweight after a potential tune-up fight.

Instead, Pacquiao has reiterated his interest in fighting McGregor in a fight that would add nothing to Pacquiao’s great legacy. For McGregor, it is a fight that if he wins, he is the WBA champion.

McGregor has shown he has a lot of power in his hands in MMA. Most notably, his victories against Jose Aldo, Eddie Alvarez, Chad Mendes, and Donald Cerrone.

Unfortunately, although McGregor may have power in his hands, it did not translate over to his boxing career when he fought Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquiao showed in his victory against Thurman; he still has what it takes to be one of the best. McGregor would be considered much of a challenge for Pacquiao. Pacquiao is one of the most experienced boxers in boxing today and still possesses enough skill to be able to battle it out with the top dogs at 147.

The WBC has said that if McGregor beats a ranked opponent with the WBC, then he can fight for a title. This is very unfair to many boxers who spend a lot of their career trying to earn a title shot. McGregor does bring in a lot of money and would be bringing in a lot of attention for the WBC.

Manny Pacquiao is not ranked in the top 15 by the WBC. Surely, it is in McGregor’s interest to take the WBC option and avoid a fight with Pacquiao. McGregor could defeat Pacquiao, but the chances of that are very slim.

McGregor should either focus on becoming a champion in the lightweight division of the UFC or should take the WBC route. A fight with Pacquiao could be for the WBA world title, though, so it could work out either way.

McGregor is facing Dustin Poirier in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC 257, which if he wins, will most certainly prolong a proposed bout with Pacquiao.

This fight does not look very likely.