Boxing. Pacquiao plans to return for an exhibition.

Manny Pacquiao, who retired final yr and ran for president within the Philippines, plans to return for a January present in Saudi Arabia. He’ll face Frenchman Jaber Zayani, he advised AFP on Tuesday.

The 43-year-old legendary sportsman and former world champion in six totally different classes will lead talks a couple of potential battle in Riyadh towards his former sparring accomplice. “We’re simply going to begin discussions,” mentioned Pacquiao, who beforehand dominated out a return to skilled boxing.

Pacquiao ended his 26-year profession by shedding on factors to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in August 2021. After turning into a senator in 2016, the sportsman ran for the presidency of the Philippines this yr however was not elected. Pacquiao might be part of the listing of massive names in boxing who, after retiring, have ventured onto the exhibition circuit.

Floyd Mayweather, who known as himself a “pioneer of exhibitions”, had dominated YouTuber Logan Paul in a battle final yr, and had struck down a younger Japanese kickboxer, Tenshin Nasukawa, in December 2018. Each fights had been profusely mocked.

Mayweather, Pacquiao’s former ring rival, will meet Japanese combined martial arts star Mikuru Asakura in a battle later this month.

TTY