Manny Pacquiao ‘Risks’ Of Forfeiting WBA Welterweight Title If He Fights Conor McGregor In Silver Fight Because UFC Legend Is Unranked In Boxing
- Legendary fighters set to meet in the ring in a tantalizing contest
- Conor McGregor was spotted in Italian boxing gym for training
- But Manny Pacquiao may be forced to defend his WBA welterweight title
- Cuban challenger Yordenis Ugas, 34, awaits his Pacquiao title shot
Manny Pacquiao risks being stripped of his WBA world tile if he goes ahead with his plan to fight UFC star Conor McGregor.
The long-awaited contest between the legendary fighters has been under discussion for the past year and now looks set to unfold in the Middle East, with Pacquiao’s coach claiming his man will knock out McGregor in two rounds.
However, according to News from the boxing world, Pacquiao could lose his welterweight title if he steps into the ring with the UFC fighter for a tantalizing encounter.
Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor are set to step into the ring in a highly anticipated contest, which would also raise funds for victims of the coronavirus pandemic
The legendary boxer, 41, won his WBA welterweight title in July 2019, defeating Keith Thurman, 31, in Las Vegas, but he has not been able to defend the belt since due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The governing body would like Pacquiao to mount a defense within six months, and certainly in 2021, against a ranked challenger, but a fight with McGregor could make that impossible.
McGregor retired from UFC after beating American Donald Cerrone in his comeback fight
McGregor, 32, who obliterated American Donald Cerrone, 37, in his return fight to the UFC in January before announcing his second retirement from the sport in June, cannot fill the role of challenger.
He is unranked and his boxing record is one fight and one loss, having faced Floyd Mayweather in a silver fight in August 2017.
Pacquiao and McGregor are two of the biggest fighting stars in the world with “Pacman” an eight-weight boxing world champion and “Notorious” the very first UFC champion to simultaneously hold two belts in different divisions.
Pacquiao won his WBA welterweight title in July 2019, beating Keith Thurman in Las Vegas
If the fight continues, Pacquiao, who is now a senator in the Philippines, has already confirmed that he will donate his earnings to victims of the coronavirus pandemic.
News of the potential contest hurdle emerged as McGregor took a break from his vacation in Italy to do some training at La Spezia in the Round Zero boxing hall, posing for photos with the owner.
Meanwhile, Cuban Yordenis Ugas, 34, will watch with interest.
He’s waiting for his title shot from Pacquiao and if the Filipino fighter doesn’t face him, he could take the belt without a punch being thrown.
Conor McGregor continued his training at a gym in La Spezia with owner Luca Riccardi (left)
