After announcing the end of his career a year ago and running for president in the Philippines, Manny Pacquio is considering a return for an exhibition fight in Saudi Arabia in January.
Famous boxer Manny Pacquiao, who retired last year and ran for president in the Philippines, is considering his return for a January exhibition in Saudi Arabia against Frenchman Jaber Zayani, he said. told AFP on Tuesday.
The legendary 43-year-old sportsman and former world champion in six different categories will lead discussions about a possible fight in Riyadh against his former training partner. “We are just about to start discussionssaid Pacquiao, who had previously ruled out a return to professional boxing.
A life between sport and politics
Pacquiao ended his 26-year career by losing on points to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in August 2021. After becoming a senator in 2016, the sportsman ran for the presidency of the Philippines this year but was not elected. Pacquiao could join the list of big names in boxing who, after retiring, have ventured onto the exhibition circuit.
Floyd Mayweather, who called himself “exhibition pioneer“, had dominated last year the YouTuber Logan Paul in a fight, and had struck down in two minutes flat a young Japanese kickboxer, Tenshin Nasukawa, in December 2018. The two fights had been abundantly mocked.
Mayweather, Pacquiao’s former ring rival, will meet Japanese mixed martial arts star Mikuru Asakura in a fight later this month.
