Manny Pacquiao says he's in talks to fight Conor McGregor, but there's almost zero chance it happens

Apparently, Jeff Horn hit Manny Pacquiao harder in their fight in July than anyone may have realized.

How else to explain Pacquiao’s recent tweets and words that he’s in talks for a boxing match with UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor?

On Thanksgiving, Pacquiao tweeted a photo of McGregor with a line insinuating they may fight soon. On Friday, Pacquiao said talks have begun for a boxing match between the two. McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather in August in one of the most heavily hyped bouts in recent history, but was stopped in the 10th round.

The talk that negotiations have begun is news to both Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and UFC president Dana White. White recently said there is a chance McGregor may not fight again after he earned roughly $100 million for the Mayweather fight, but White has only been working on MMA fights for McGregor.

White said “false” Saturday when Yahoo Sports asked about Pacquiao’s comments.

Arum said that Pacquiao’s duties as a senator in the Philippines make scheduling his next fight difficult, but said he was looking for Pacquiao to have something of a tune-up fight in April if it could be arranged, but not with McGregor.

Earlier this year, Pacquiao took to Twitter to talk up a fight with Amir Khan in Dubai, but Arum consistently said it was a non-starter and that fight never came close to occurring.

Pacquiao, though, has been at it again.

Pacquiao said, “If we can negotiate it, I have no problem. It is OK with both of us.” He added that his people had reached out to McGregor, but significantly, he added they, “have not yet had any follow-up conversations.”