McGregor shuns Pacquiao, wants ‘true fight’ next

MMA star Conor McGregor (left) downplayed an announcement by Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao (right) that they had opened talks for a fight. McGregor said he wanted to do a ‘true fight’ next, referring to mixed martial arts. AFP FILE PHOTOS

NEW YORK, United States — Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor, touted as a potential opponent for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, has indicated he wants his next bout to be a return to the octagon rather than the ring.

Caught on video by the celebrity news site while out and about in New York, McGregor was asked about Pacquiao’s announcement last week that he had opened talks to fight McGregor.

“I think a true fight is what I want to do next,” McGregor says in the video posted online on Saturday. “MMA next.”

Ireland’s McGregor hasn’t fought in mixed martial arts or boxing since losing a boxing bout to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather by a 10th-round technical knockout in their much-hyped bout in Las Vegas in August.

Showtime sports released final figures on Friday showing the cross-combat superfight drew the second-most North American pay-per-view buys in history with 4.3 million.

Only one other fight — Mayweather’s 2015 clash with Pacquiao — has ever drawn more, racking up 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.

Showtime said in a statement that global revenues, including ticket sales, sponsorship and international distribution, for Mayweather-McGregor had exceeded $600 million. /cbb