Pacquiao plans to donate 'huge portion' of earnings from McGregor bout

Manny Pacquiao will use his potential boxing bout against UFC star Conor McGregor to help people in his native Philippines.

In a statement released to ESPN on Saturday, Pacquiao's assistant, Jayke Joson, confirmed the boxer is in negotiations to fight McGregor and plans to donate most of his earnings to Filipinos affected by COVID-19.

"For the sake of all the Filipino COVID-19 victims, Senator Manny Pacquiao will be fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor next year," the statement reads. "The huge portion of his earnings will proceed to those who are affected nationwide by the pandemic."

McGregor announced Friday on Twitter that he'll be "boxing Manny Pacquiao next in the Middle East." His manager, who also represents Pacquiao, said the bout would take place in late December or early January.