Conor McGregor a safe route for Pacquiao to take if he makes a comeback, says analyst

If and when Manny Pacquiao truly makes a ring return, veteran boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino believes that a mega fight with former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor is a safe route to take.

Pacquiao and McGregor were on a collision course last year until the latter suffered a knockout defeat against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 in January 2021. Interest surrounding the bout died down when the Irish MMA fighter lost while Pacquiao also suffered a defeat against Yordenis Ugas later on.

According to Tolentino, the mega showdown between the pair may very well be far from over because there is so much money at stake.

“This prospective fight between Pacquiao and McGregor is not yet over,” Tolentino told Sparring Sessions LIVE.

“McGregor has injured his leg so if he goes back to MMA that would be targeted and he might not recover. Boxing safer is safer and can get him more money. I think it can still happen.”

The 33-year-old McGregor, 22-6 as a mixed martial artist, tried his hands once at professional boxing in 2017 against Floyd Mayweather Jr. where he lost by way of technical knockout in the tenth round.

McGregor has always talked about boxing again, and Tolentino believes that he is a good opponent for Pacquiao in the sense that he is not as dangerous an opponent compared to the champions of the 147-pound division.

“For me, go for it, End it in one round. That is the biggest money that can be made. But when will it stop? After McGregor another one would come out of nowhere,” Tolentino said.

“Pacquiao's legacy is made. Do not look for Terence Crawford or Errol Spence because he could get badly hurt. He should do this [McGregor fight] to distance himself from danger.”

—JMB, GMA News