Manny Pacquiao vs Conor McGregor boxing match 'would not be a contest' says Bob Arum
KEY POINTS
- Pacquiao vs McGregor is seen as one of the more lucrative super fights.
- Pacquiao recently hinted at a fight with the Irishman on social media.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says a potential boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor would be a mismatch and nothing but a money grab.
McGregor put his MMA career on hold to enter the boxing world back in August as he took on Floyd Mayweather in the much-talked about "Money Fight".
The Irishman went on to lose the bout as referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight in the 10th round. However, McGregor would make a cool $100m from the fight.
He has since been linked with more boxing fights, with Pacquiao being one of the candidates. "Pacman" lost his WBO welterweight belt to Jeff Horn back in July but recently hinted at a fight with the 29-year-old UFC star on Instagram.
Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, believes a fight between the two would not even be close to a contest.
"If we equate boxing with fighting – because I'm not talking about his ability as an MMA participant because he has been very good with that – Conor McGregor can't spell fight," Arum said, as quoted by BoxingScene.
"Mayweather carried him before he took him out. With Manny, it wouldn't be a contest, it would be a money grab. Conor McGregor is not a boxer and does not know how to box.
"His stance is a stance of an MMA fighter who has to protect against kicks and takedowns. He is not competitive with any fighter, no matter how old that fighter is.
"He doesn't know how to spell fight. He's a great, great MMA artist. This is no knock on him. He's a great attraction. But he cannot spell fight."
Arum has no interest in a fight with McGregor. However, he claimed that if Pacquiao asks for the fight, he would look into making it happen.
"The answer is no, I wouldn't particularly look forward to doing a fight featuring McGregor and Pacquiao," he added. "If Manny asked me to, I would."
