FILE PHOTO — Conor McGregor celebrates after defeating Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone during a UFC 246 welterweight mixed martial arts bout Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
MANILA, Philippines — Is Conor McGregor fighting Manny Pacquiao anytime soon?
It sure seems so after the former UFC star tweeted in Filipino on Saturday.
“Tinatanggap ko,” wrote McGregor, whose tweet in English translates to “I accept,” which was also his exact post a day earlier.
tinatanggap ko
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 31, 2020
The 31-year-old Irish has been vocal about wanting to challenge Pacquiao in the boxing ring as well as getting another crack at Floyd Mayweather Jr., who retired after beating him in 2017.
McGregor’s cryptic posts also came two weeks after implying a possible bout with Pacquiao at 170 pounds in a reply to the Filipino legend on Twitter.
I accept!
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 30, 2020
Speculations of a potential Pacquiao-McGregor clash grew louder after the welterweight champion signed with Paradigm Sports Management, which also represents McGregor, last February.
Pacquiao’s business manager Arnold Vegafria had also said that there is a “possibility” that the two will fight in “the last part” of Pacquiao’s career.
The 41-year-old Pacquiao hasn’t fought since beating Keith Thurman to win the WBA (Super) welterweight title in July of last year.
McGregor, meanwhile, scored an impressive first round stoppage of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 last January before announcing his retirement anew five months later.
It was McGregor’s third retirement in the last four years.