Conor keen on fighting Pacquiao at new NFL stadium

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor has headlined MGM Grand Garden Arena several times. He has been the main event at T-Mobile Arena, too. And now he could be eyeing a massive bout at Allegiant Stadium, where the Las Vegas Raiders are due to begin playing next season.

McGregor said Thursday (Friday, PHL time) at a news conference that it would be an “honor” to be in the first combat sports main event at the facility. But he suggested maybe it wouldn’t happen in the UFC, but in boxing.

Sean Gibbons, president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, sent a mock fight poster to Yahoo Sports on Wednesday. The poster had on it photos of Pacquiao, McGregor and the location at Allegiant Stadium, which is expected to open in July.

“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.”

McGregor first has to fight Donald Cerrone in the UFC 246 main event Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. If he wins, then the list of potential future opponent is long. In the UFC, there’s a potential rematch with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov or a bout with BMF titleholder Jorge Masvidal. But McGregor said he’s open to boxing as well. He fought Floyd Mayweather in boxing in 2017, losing by 10th-round TKO.

McGregor said a second fight with Mayweather could take place this year, and Mayweather and UFC president Dana White have already discussed an undisclosed business deal for potentially late 2020.

Meanwhile, McGregor said Wednesday that talks with Pacquiao’s team are “ongoing.” Pacquiao has previously expressed interest in a fight with McGregor.

“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.”

McGregor, 31, has not fought at all since an October 2018 loss to Nurmagomedov. He has been saddled with several legal issues since then. The Ireland native came into this week ahead of the Cerrone fight with an air of gratitude about him and a lack of his usual over-the-top bombast. —