Manny Pacquiao, who gave up boxing last year to run for president of the Philippines, said on Tuesday that he is thinking about having an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia in January.
In Riyadh, the 43-year-old renowned former world champion will undertake negotiations for a matchup with former sparring partner Jaber Zayani of France.
"We will just start discussions," Pacquiao said via phone from General Santos, where he's preparing for a charity match against a South Korean YouTuber, according to a report from AFP published by the Inquirer.
In August 2021, Pacquiao's 26-year boxing career came to an end when he lost on points against Yordenis Ugas of Cuba. A former senator, Pacquiao also tried unsuccessfully to run for president of his nation earlier this year.
When asked about his next charity battle on December 10 in Seoul against martial arts YouTuber DK Yoo, Pacquiao responded, "I will prepare the same way I train for a real fight."
On YouTube, where he promotes his self-described martial arts method dubbed "warrior battle system," Yoo has more than 650,000 subscribers.
Most of the money donated would go to repairing houses in war-torn Ukraine, organizers said.
Will Fans See a Pacquiao-Marquez V?
Subsequently, a fight between Pacquiao and his bitter rival Juan Manuel Marquez is once more mentioned.
Former champion "Dinamita," 46, on posted on his Instagram page photos wherein he appeared to be in fantastic shape.
Given everything that is now happening in boxing concerning comebacks, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that Marquez may be one of them.
The shocking knockout Pacquiao suffered at the hands of Marquez in 2012 is still haunting Manny. Since then, big offers have been made to get the four-weight champ to fight again.
Marquez was upset with the results of at least two of his previous three contests before the KO per World Boxing News.
Marquez had only one interest in the final stages of his career. That was him getting his due in the Pacquiao saga. Marquez had received this from the fourth fight. Since then, he has refused every invitation to come back for another.
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Marquez Declines $150 Million Offer
However, Juan Manuel Marquez earlier stated that he is not interested to face Manny Pacquiao again in the boxing ring.
According to a Marca story from July, former Mexican world champion Juan Manuel Marquez revealed that he declined a $150 million contract to face Manny Pacquiao for the fifth battle.
On December 8, 2012, Marquez fought Manny Pacquiao for the fourth bout. "Pac-Man" has two victories and one tie in the first three battles.
Juan Manuel Marquez shape keeps Manny Pacquiao on alert for fifth fight https://t.co/FHcNWBnZUz
— World Boxing News (@WorldBoxingNews) September 4, 2022
At the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the fourth fight took place. With a surprise knockout in the sixth round, the Mexican earned one of his career's most significant victories.
There was a lot of discussion about having a fifth fight after that victory, but the Mexican refused.
Marquez noted: "They offered on the table $150 million for a fifth fight, but I said 'no, I don't want a fifth fight. Better the pride, the dignity, the love for the sport, and the most important victory of my life because we had beaten the best pound-for-pound fighter at that time."
El "Dinamita" ended his boxing career in 2014 and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2022 in New York.
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