Manny Pacquiao’s return to boxing at 46 years old is a momentous occasion for combat sports, with boxing fans looking forward to seeing if the former eight-division world champion will continue to stack more legacy wins at his relative old age. It is also an opportunity for Pacquiao to see if any massive paydays, like a potential Floyd Mayweather rematch, are on the table if he wins his fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. The boxing legend recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show and shed light on the long-rumored crossover bout with UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
Manny Pacquiao Opens Up On Failed Conor McGregor Boxing Match originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Manny Pacquiao’s return to boxing at 46 years old is a momentous occasion for combat sports, with boxing fans looking forward to seeing if the former eight-division world champion will continue to stack more legacy wins at his relative old age. For the sport of boxing, Pacquiao’s return is both a nostalgic draw and a test for how the sport handles legends chasing glory past their prime.
It is also an opportunity for Pacquiao to see if any massive paydays, like a potential Floyd Mayweather rematch, are on the table if he wins his fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
The boxing legend recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show and shed light on the long-rumored crossover bout with UFC superstar Conor McGregor. The eight-division world champion revealed that the fight was nearly finalized but collapsed due to managerial disputes.
Watch the full interview here:
"We almost made that happen, that fight," Pacquiao admitted, "but the thing is that there are so many problems with his manager."
The comments gave Helwani a sneak peek of the years of behind-the-scenes tensions, including legal battles between Pacquiao and McGregor’s management team, Paradigm Sports.
The proposed superfight, which would have been McGregor’s second professional boxing match after his 2017 loss to Floyd Mayweather, was plagued by contractual and legal hurdles.
Pacquiao hinted at unresolved issues, stating, "I don't know, I cannot comment about that because the case is not yet finished."
This aligns with the 2023 lawsuit filed by Paradigm, which accused Pacquiao of breaching an exclusive deal, a case later overturned in 2024 due to licensing technicalities.
Based on Manny Pacquiao’s comments, the legal fallout clearly left a lasting rift between the camps.
Earlier this month, Pacquiao also spoke to sports betting website Covers to address the fallout with McGregor.
He emphasized his attempts to resolve the conflict amicably, claiming, "I told him I'm a nice person, I'm fair like that, but they don't listen. They don't believe me."
The breakdown in communication between the two teams derailed what could have been one of combat sports’ most lucrative events.
Despite the animosity, Pacquiao stopped short of declaring the matchup dead. His cautious tone when answering Helwani suggests he is not completely closed to the idea, though the legal appeals and McGregor’s inactivity since 2021 make it increasingly unlikely.
Meanwhile, the Irishman’s focus has shifted to personal and legal struggles, including a recent scandal with rapper Azealia Banks, while Pacquiao prepares for his title fight on July 19.
Related: Conor McGregor's Scandal With Azealia Banks Explained
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
