Manny Pacquiao released a statement on Wednesday, revealing that he now handles his own promotional business dealings, and that "the fans want" the boxing legend to co-promote any possible fight with MMA star Conor McGregor.
In a very public series of verbal confrontations with UFC president Dana White, McGregor has hinted that his next competitive foray will be either a return fight with Dustin Poirier in Dublin, Ireland, or another step into boxing against Pacquiao.
In a statement shared on social media by Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole, Pacquiao revealed that he was no longer under contract to Audie Attar's Paradigm Sports Management, who also have McGregor as a client, and that he would want to co-promote a crossover bout with the Irishman independently.
The statement read: “At the present time, I do not have an existing management contract with Audie Attar. I have formed my own company, Pac Sports and Entertainment, and am more than willing to give the fans what they want: An exciting fight with Conor McGregor under terms and conditions where I am the co-promoter with my company. Thank you and God bless.”
The news comes very soon after Attar had hinted that such a fight would need the blessing of White, since McGregor remains under UFC contract, though Pacquiao's now ex-manager was confident they had his go-ahead.
McGregor of course stepped into the boxing ring once before, when he lost to unbeaten star Floyd Mayweather Jr. in August 2017. Mayweather also defeated Pacquiao in their long-anticipated showdown in May 2015.