Manny Pacquiao vs. Conor McGregor sealed: You ready for it?
It might just be the stuff of legends — and 2021's biggest highlight talking about sports.
This, as camps of both People's Champ Manny Pacquiao and former UFC champ Conor McGregor on Saturday confirmed a fight between the two superstars being ironed out for next year.
"We won't deny it. In fact, our lawyers are finalizing all the confidential details, but both fighters are getting ready for this one epic last boxing fight," Pacquiao's assistant Jayke Joson said in a statement.
Joson's confirmation came with Audie Attar, McGregor's agent, earlier teasing a fight between the two athlete-celebs happening in the Middle East in 2021.
Joson, however, explained Pacquiao's fight would be for a cause more than just a boxing match.
"As what our senator says, all his fights are dedicated for the welfare and unity of all Filipinos, including this one," he said.
Joson added the talks of this possibly legendary fight wouldn't impede Pacquiao's legislative priorities.
"Our beloved senator doesn't want to talk boxing for the meantime since we are in the middle of the pandemic and this is not the right time for it."
McGregor, for his part, supported the news by tweeting his excitement on the same day: "It will be a true honour to have faced two of the greatest boxers of the modern era, afraid of a fight."
It will be a true honour to have faced two of the greatest boxers of the modern era, afraid of a fight.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2020
Pacquiao last fought American Keith Thurman in July 2019, securing his World Boxing Association Super World Welterweight belt through a split decision. The General Santos City native, out-dueling Thurman then at 40, emerged to be the oldest welterweight champ in history. He currently boasts of a 62-7-2 win-loss-draw record.
McGregor, an Irish, is nine years younger than his Filipino would-be foe.
Despite finding himself involved in a few controversies in and out of the sport, McGregor shares a decorated career in the UFC. He has won various featherweight and welterweight titles spanning 12 years as an MMA fighter, before retiring from the sport June this year.
Off the Octagon, he has earned Fighter of the Year plums from ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Fox Sports among others. He was even included on Time Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential People of 2017.
McGregor's foray into boxing was in 2017 against equally controversial athlete Floyd Mayweather, Jr. He lost via technical knockout.
Banner image from Conor McGregor's Instagram account