Could we see Conor McGregor taking on boxing's only eight-division world champion inside the squared circle? The former two-division UFC champion hinted on Wednesday during a press conference to promote Saturday's UFC 246 main event bout against Donald Cerrone that talks were "ongoing" between the parties.
More fuel to the fire was added when on Thursday, Sean Gibbons, president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, posted a mock fight poster on Instagram of Pacquiao and McGregor with the location of Allegiant Stadium. That is the new home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, which is set to open in July.
McGregor said at his media session on Thursday that it would be an "honor" to open the 65,000-seat stadium as the headlining act with Pacquiao standing across the ring from him.
"I would love to be the first combatant to fight in that arena," McGregor said. "What a fight that would be against Manny. A small, powerful southpaw. I'd have to figure out the weight and these things. But something that interests me, no doubt."
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) last fought in July when he defeated Keith Thurman in a dominating performance to become the WBA welterweight champion. "Pac-Man" hadn't acknowledged any of the rumored talks between his side and McGregor's team until he released a short video on Friday morning wishing McGregor the best at UFC 246.
"Good luck, Conor," Pacquiao said. "Good luck in your fight on Saturday night. Do all your best."
McGregor has plenty of options available in the UFC if he gets by Cerrone. Those options include a rematch with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, a fight against former interim lightweight titleholder Tony Ferguson, BMF champ Jorge Masvidal or welterweight titlist Kamaru Usman.
But McGregor left the door wide open for a return to the sweet science as well that not only involves Pacquiao, but a sequel with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who he lost to by tenth-round TKO in his professional debut.
"I certainly would love the rematch with Floyd," McGregor said. "It could very well happen this year, yes. It could very well happen. I know the Manny one is there whenever."