Conor McGregor says talks with Manny Pacquiao are "ongoing" after declaring his desire to fight for a boxing world title.
The Irishman is set to make his UFC return 15 months after a submission defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov when he faces Donald Cerrone in Las Vegas on Saturday.
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While McGregor, a former two-weight champion in UFC, has his immediate focus on the Octagon, he still fancies another crack at boxing after losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a blockbuster bout in August 2017.
A rematch with Mayweather remains a goal for McGregor, who said there are talks to face Pacquiao, the Filipino great who won the WBA (Super) welterweight title last July.
"I would love that Floyd rematch. For what was in front of me I thought I done very well, and with some slight adjustments I'd have done even better," McGregor said at a news conference ahead of UFC 246.
"I feel now I could take that victory. Manny Pacquiao, talks have been ongoing.
Surprise, surprise.
— UFC (@ufc) January 9, 2020
@TheNotoriousMMA #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/wS9ctQ2pla
"For me, an aspiration of mine now also is to win a boxing world title. I think that would be a phenomenal feather in the cap and something I look to achieve in the future and something I will achieve.
"I'm back with my boxing coaches at Crumlin Boxing Club where I learned to throw a punch. They've sat me down on my punches, we've cleaned up some things and I'm feeling really confident in my boxing abilities.
"It'd be an honor to come back into boxing."