Bangkok – In an interview with AFP on Tuesday, Manny Pacquiao, who gave up boxing last year to run for president of the Philippines, said he is thinking about having an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia in January.
A bout between the 43-year-old renowned former world champion and his former sparring partner, the Frenchman Jaber Zayani, is scheduled to be discussed in Riyadh.
In his home city of General Santos, where he is preparing for a charity fight against a South Korean YouTuber, Pacquiao, who had previously ruled out a comeback to professional boxing, stated, “We will simply start negotiations.”
In August 2021, Yordenis Ugas of Cuba defeated Pacquiao on points, ending his 26-year boxing career. Pacquiao, a former senator, had tried unsuccessfully to run for president of his nation earlier this year.
Pacquiao stated of his charity battle on December 10 versus martial arts YouTuber DK Yoo, “I will prepare in the same manner I practise for a genuine fight.”
There is no established weight restriction for the six-round battle, which might give Yoo the physical edge over Pacquiao.
Yoo advertises his self-described martial arts technique, “warrior battle system,” on YouTube, where he has more than 650,000 members.
Yoo previously said, “I know I will not defeat him, but I will give it my all to shock Manny Pacquiao.”
According to organisers, the majority of the funds earned during the event will be used to repair houses in Ukraine, which has been devastated by fighting.
Pacquiao is expected to follow other accomplished boxers who have entered the exhibition circuit after retiring.
After dominating YouTuber Logan Paul in a bout last year, Floyd Mayweather—who has referred to himself as the “pioneer of exhibitions”—kicked out Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in under two minutes in December 2018.
Both battles were heavily mocked.
Later this month, Mayweather, Pacquiao’s former boxing opponent, will face Mikuru Asakura, a Japanese mixed martial artist.