Manny Pacquiao, right. with Saudi Royal Court adviser Turki Al-Sheikh, middle, MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons during the Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou boxing event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MP PROMOTIONS PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing three years ago.
But throughout the years, it seemed like Pacquiao never left with speculations about his potential return sprout every now and then.
Over the weekend, Pacquiao was in Saudi Arabia as one of the guests of Saudi adviser at the Royal Court Turki Al-Sheikh for the heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou.
READ: Pacquiao accepts his Olympic dream is over
Somehow, Pacquiao made quite a buzz himself after he faced off with undefeated British boxer Conor Benn, 27, during Joshua and Ngannou’s official weigh-in.
MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons, who also serves as the Filipino ring icon’s right-hand man, described the scene as a “feeding frenzy like the fight was happening.”
Just imagine, @ConorNigel taking on @MannyPacquiao 👀 pic.twitter.com/i2bewyHK92
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 7, 2024
It could be another teaser that would eventually lead nowhere but with interest in all the parties involved, who knows?
“Manny Pacquiao has had the itch to fight ever since his political campaign ended,” said Gibbons, who was with Pacquiao in Riyadh.
“So if the opportunity comes up and his excellency wants this fight on in Saudi Arabia, Manny Pacquiao is ready to go.”
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As far as Al-Sheikh, who is in charge of Saudi Arabia’s sports and entertainment industry, is concerned, he is keen on staging Pacquiao’s comeback in Saudi, which has emerged as a boxing hotbed.
“Manny, I want you in the Kingdom,” Al-Sheikh said as quoted by Gibbons.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39KOs), one of the greatest fighters of all time, hung up his gloves following a loss to Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas in August 2021.
He has stayed retired since but he did participate in an exhibition fight against South Korean YouTuber and martial artist DK Yoo in South Korea in December 2022.