Conor McGregor vs Manny Pacquiao CONFIRMED by Filipino with boxing match set for December or January

MANNY PACQUIAO has confirmed he will fight Conor McGregor in the boxing ring - and the bout is set for January.

The quick turn-around was revealed today - with the epic clash set to be held in the Middle East.

McGregor had talked up a return to boxing after announcing he was quitting UFC in the summer - and last night teased that he was going to fight the Filipino legend.

He tweeted: "Anyway all water under the bridge who gives a fook. I’m boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East."

And pound-for-pound icon Pacquiao has now confirmed he will fight the Irishman in a sensational clash.

McGregor previously fought Floyd Mayweather under Queensberry Rules in 2017, and was stopped in the tenth round.

He has been eyeing another dabble into boxing for some time now despite that defeat.

Pacquaio, 41 - known as Pac Man - has now accepted the Irishman's challenge.

A senator in his native country, he says cash from this fight will go towards the relief effort in the Philippines after Covid-19.

A statement from Pacquiao's office read: "For the sake of all the Filipino Covid-19 victims, Senator Manny Pacquiao will be fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year.

"The huge portion of his earnings will proceed to those who are affected nationwide by the pandemic."

Both men have previously fought Floyd Mayweather.

The Pac Man previously took on 'Money' Mayweather in 2015 in one of the biggest-grossing PPV fights in history.

But this was also one of the worst PPV fights ever, with the Filipino struggling to to get anywhere near his best form.

McGregor fans have mixed feelings about his return to boxing.

One said: "I'm a big fan Conor but ffs man get back to what you do best. Get back to the ufc and have a run at the 155 or 170 titles!"

But Conor McGoat said: "All of u will watch it. All of u will talk about it. So just shut up and witness greatness thank u Conor u are our lord and saviour."

McGregor, 32, retired from UFC for a third time in four years earlier this summer.

He then yesterday teased that he would be coming back to fight Pacquaio.

In a succession of tweets, the Irishman said: "It will be a true honour to have faced two of the greatest boxers of the modern era, afraid of a fight."

Pacquiao, an eight-weight world champion widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters ever, most recently fought in July last year when he beat Keith Thurman in a WBA super world welterweight title defence.