Pacquiao fight has a 90% chance of happening this year, says McGregor's coach

Conor McGregor’s boxing coach Phil Sutcliffe is confident that his ward would get to fight eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao this year.

Sutcliffe even revealed their plan to put up a two-month boxing camp after the former two-division UFC world champion from Ireland is done with his next fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 on January 24 at the Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

“85 to 90% chance [of the Pacquiao fight happening] maybe April, March. March, April, or May,” Sutcliffe told ESPN.

“I'd like him to be in a boxing camp for at least two months, eight weeks. I mean, he's fit now. He's going to train straight after the fight. He is going to take probably a week off," he said.

Talks of a showdown between McGregor and Pacquiao erupted last year after both prizefighters confirmed that their camps are in touch with each other.

McGregor also revealed a few days ago that negotiations with the Pacquiao camp are “intensifying”, signaling that the fight is heading in the right direction.

Knowing the importance of taking time off after a fight, Sutcliffe, who predicts McGregor to win over Poirier, says that he would allow his fighter to have a little fun after his next appearance inside the cage.

“I told him to take a week off. Don't worry, if he wants to take a week off, he can then go straight back on the horse,” he said.

“We don't want him out gallivanting too much, but he has to enjoy the win, he has to enjoy the win, enjoy the contest," Sutcliffe added. —KG, GMA News