Manny Pacquiao (67-7-2, 39 KOs) looks likely to lose his WBA welterweight championship if he chooses UFC star Conor McGregor as his next opponent, according to a report.
Pacquiao won the title in his last fight, way back in July 2019 when he put an end to the unbeaten record of Keith Thurman via split decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
After 2020 was essentially rendered a non-starter by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach claimed in the summer that the 41-year-old would fight twice more next year before retiring to focus on his political career from 2022.
However, Phil Jay of World Boxing News wrote that "As the current WBA welterweight champion, Pacquiao will almost certainly be relieved of the strap if he doesn’t defend it in the next few months.
"The World Boxing Association would have given Pacquiao a grace period due to the coronavirus stopping so many fights. But they will want movement in the next six months or so.
"At present, Yordinis Ugas is the ‘regular’ champion. The Cuban will want his shot at the full version to be recognized entirely as the real belt holder. Therefore, Pacquiao will undoubtedly have to face Ugas in 2021. If he doesn’t, the WBA will be forced to act and elevated Ugas to full titleholder.
"Pacquiao won’t be able to defend his strap against McGregor as the UFC star is 0-1 in a boxing ring. He’s also unranked. McGregor would have to fight somebody else first. Possibly pick up a fringe WBA title in order to be rated. The WBA would then have to agree to a request for Pacquiao to put it on the line in an exhibition charity bout. An entirely unlikely scenario."
With the end of boxing's only eight-weight world champion's career in sight, it's unlikely Pacquiao would be against abdicating the WBA title if it means securing what could be a huge event against McGregor.
This could result in 'regular' champion Ugas facing interim champ Jamal James to determine who receives the belt in the event of Pacquiao giving it up.