Conor McGregor has his sights set on facing Floyd Mayweather in a rematch of their 2017 bout – but insists talks have been held with Manny Pacquiao for a mega-money boxing match with the Filipino.
McGregor returns to the UFC this weekend for his first fight inside the Octagon in 15 months, taking on Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone at 170lbs.
But ‘The Notorious’ has grand plans for his future and wants to step back into the squared circle, having done so when he was defeated by 10th-round technical knockout by Mayweather when the two clashed in Las Vegas three years ago.
McGregor and Mayweather earned eye-watering paychecks for that bout and despite stepping up to the UFC’s welterweight division on his highly-anticipated return against Cerrone, the Irishman also plans on stepping back into the world of boxing.
Having declared his desire to win a belt in boxing, McGregor says ahead of UFC 246 that a second showdown with the undefeated Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) is his No 1 option but that taking on Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) is also a possibility.
Asked whether he would prefer taking on ‘Money’ Mayweather or ‘Pacman’ at a press conference to preview his showdown with Cerrone, McGregor said: “That’s a tough one. That’s a tough one.
“I would love that Floyd rematch. For what was in front of me I thought I done very well and with some slight adjustments I’d have done even better.
“I feel now I could take that victory. Manny Pacquiao, talks have been ongoing in that.
“For me, an aspiration of mine now also is to win a boxing world title.
“I think that would be a phenomenal feather in the cap and something I look to achieve in the future and something I will achieve.
This is his first fight since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 nearly 18 months ago.
And the Dubliner is expectedly optimistic he has what it takes to overcome veteran Cerrone, whose MMA record reads 50 fights, 36 wins, 13 losses and one no contest.
“I feel I have the speed advantage. I’m feeling confident and I am fully committed,” the 31-year-old continued.
“I made this game what it is so I’m going to go in there and remind everyone of that.
“I can read Donald like a children’s book.”