Pacquiao in Talks For Potential Exhibition Fight in January 2023

Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, who retired from boxing in 2021, is eyeing a January exhibition fight in Saudi Arabia.

Pacquiao, 43, is in talks to face former sparring partner Jaber Zayani in Riyadh.

Zayani (18-0, 11 KOs), a French boxer competing in the Philippines, is looking to make his way up the lightweight division.

“We will simply start the discussions,” Pacquiao explained to Agence France-Presse.

Pacquiao’s career rival, five-division champion Floyd Mayweather, has been involved in several exhibition bouts since retiring from the sport in 2017.

He participated in his first exhibition in December 2019, when he defeated kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa. Last year, he fought in eight rounds with social media star Logan Paul. Then in May, he faced former training partner Don Moore. And later this month he will clash with MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura from Japan.

Last year, Pacquiao decided to walk away after losing a twelve-round decision to WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas, who came in as a late replacement after WBC/IBF champion Errol Spence was forced to step down. retire due to injury.

Pacquiao is already scheduled to participate in a charity fight on December 10 in Seoul against South Korean YouTuber DK Yoo. Most of the money will be sent to the country of Ukraine, which is currently under attack by Russia.

“I will prepare the same way I train for a real fight,” Pacquiao said.

One thing Pacquiao won’t consider is getting back in the ring for a fully sanctioned fight. Those days are over.