Manny Pacquiao has challenged Conor McGregor to a “real boxing match”, after the UFC star’s defeat to Floyd Mayweather.
McGregor, making his debut in the professional boxing ring, was stopped on his feet, against the ropes, in the 10th round of his Las Vegas extravaganza against Mayweather in August.
The win extended Mayweather’s unbeaten career to 50-0, having defeated Pacquiao by a unanimous decision in their ‘Fight of the Century’ in 2015, but the Filipino fighter has now offered McGregor another chance to don his boxing gloves.
“Happy Thanksgiving! Stay fit my friend. #realboxingmatch #2018 @thenotoriousmma,” Pacquiao posted on Twitter and Instagram, using McGregor’s social media handle.
There was no immediate reaction from McGregor on social media, and Pacquiao’s media team told AFP Friday that there were “no negotiations yet” about a McGregor match.
UFC lightweight champion McGregor has said he would beat Mayweather if the pair had a rematch, and the Irishman has not yet confirmed whether he would quit boxing after the defeat.
Pacquiao, who turns 39 in three weeks, lost his World Boxing Organisation welterweight title to Australian former teacher Jeff Horn in July, having come out of retirement in 2016 to take the belt from US fighter Jessie Vargas.
