Philippines, 29 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao-McGregor Looks Certain But Will the WBA Allow, Sanction It?


PhilBoxing.com





As days passed by, it is becoming definitive that Manny Pacquiao is all in for a fight versus UFC star Conor McGregor being organized by a group somewhere in the Middle East.

Whether it will be an exhibition or a sanctioned boxing bout is still unclear.

Pacquiao was quoted recently that he wanted to experience fighting a mixed martial artist but in a boxing match as Floyd Mayweather, Jr. did back in 2018 against the same McGregor.

The Floyd-McGregor fight attracted 4.3 million pay per views and generated hundreds millions of dollars making it the second highest grossing boxing match in history, next only to the Floyd-Pacquiao fight in 2015.

According to Wiki, Mayweather reportedly earned $280 million and McGregor $130 million, substantially more than their guaranteed $100 million and $30 million, respectively.

Obviously, the expected financial bonanza is also one of the main interests of Pacquiao in committing himself to this fight.

But there are differences in the case of Floyd and Manny vis a vis McGregor.

Mayweather who had retired in late 2015 had chosen McGregor as his supposed comeback fight. He was so convincing in his so called second unretirement that both the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the World Boxing Commission sanctioned the fight as official boxing match.

But in the fight aftermath, after scooping much of the take, Floyd retired from boxing once again while McGregor returned to mixed martial arts.

This drew criticism from fans and experts alike that the fight was a sham and no more than a money grab.

Pacquiao is an active boxer who holds a major world title as the WBA welterweight super champion. He won the crown from American Keith Thurman in July 2019 but has not seen action since being involved in possible unification and later encumbered as he was like most boxers by the Covid 19 pandemic.

There appears to be no problem as to who will host and bankroll the Pacquiao-McGregor fight but the question is, will it be an exhibition or a sanctioned boxing match? If it will be a regular boxing bout, who will sanction it?

The most important question is, will the WBA stand out of the way and allow Pacquiao to participate in such match?

Remember that the WBA designated Pacquiao to challenge for its regular belt against then reigning and defending Argentine champion Lucas Matthyse in 2018. Winning the title, the WBA sanctioned Pacquiao's defense of the same title against American challenger Adrien Broner in early 2019.

The WBA then ordered its comebacking super champion Thurman to defend his belt against Pacquiao in a fight in July 2019 which Manny won, thus becoming the organization's super champion.

As stated, the WBA has not obligated Pacquiao to defend his title since July 2019 in view of the possibility of Manny being involved in any unification against WBC-IBF champion Errol Spence or WBO titlist Terrence Crawford.

A Pacquiao-Crawford unification fight was reportedly in the works for mid 2020 until the Covid 19 pandemic got in the way.

Pacquiao has not committed himself to any new title unification initiatives nor planned to defend his title against any challenger pending the designation of WBA of one which the WBA has not done---yet.

The question therefore is, will the WBA adopt a hands off policy and allow Pacquiao to fight McGregor first before obliging him to either unify or make a title defense?

Or will the WBA oblige Pacquiao to make a long overdue first title defense of its super belt against either its regular titlist, Cuban Yordenis Ugas, interim titlist Mexican Vergil Ortiz or top rated contenders, Americans Jamal James or Mikey Garcia? With the threat of stripping the super belt from him in failing to do so.

Or will the WBA sanction the Pacquiao-McGregor fight as a regular non title bout to gain at least from it by way of a sanction fee?

The WBA as a factor in this planned Pacquaio-McGregor fight cannot be overlooked.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri and John Jerish Velarde struck gold and bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Would OKC Still Win the West If Dallas Had Not Traded Doncic?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Asenso Ozamis Open chess tournament on July 12 and 13
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS’ JAKE PAUL VS. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR. PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Guro Dan Inosanto: Guardian of the Filipino Fighting Spirit
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Christian Mbilili vs. Maciej Sulecki
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Unbeaten Philippines Top Prospect Criztian Pitt Laurente Signs with Sanman Boxing
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS PROMISING AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT SARDIUS SIMMONS
    , Fri, 27 Jun 2025
  • Madoka Wada Halts Chay Rivas in Tokyo, Retains OPBF Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Grand Prix a Grand Concept
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • PHOTOS: Pacquiao Showcases Vintage Form During Media Day Workout at Wildcard Gym
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Christian Mbilli & Maciej Sulecki Collide for Interim Super Middleweight World Title FRIDAY in Quebec City
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Rivas vs Wada: Battle for Women’s OPBF Supremacy Today in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Mexican boxing icon Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez Respects Cuban fighters & rivalry
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025
  • Claressa Shields Partners with King Moore to Empower Detroit Youth with the “Follow Your Dreams” Program Presented by SMT Financial Partners
    , Thu, 26 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.