パッキャオ氏、サウジでのエキシビ戦を検討

【マニラＡＦＰ＝時事】昨年ボクシングを引退したフィリピンのマニー・パッキャオ氏（４３）が６日、来年１月にサウジアラビアでエキシビションマッチを開催することを検討していると明かした。（写真はマニー・パッキャオ氏。資料写真）
　元８階級王者のパッキャオ氏は、サウジアラビアの首都リヤドで元スパーリングパートナーのジャベール・ザヤニ（フランス）と対戦することについて、話し合いを行う予定だという。
　以前に現役復帰を否定しているパッキャオ氏は、故郷のジェネラルサントス市からＡＦＰの電話取材に応じ、「間もなく話し合いを始める」とコメントした。
　パッキャオ氏は現在、韓国ソウルで１２月に行う格闘系ユーチューバー、ＤＫ・ユーとのチャリティーマッチに向けて準備している。パッキャオ氏が「真剣勝負に向けたトレーニングと同じ準備をする」と話した試合は、６ラウンド制で体重制限がなく、体格で劣るパッキャオ氏には不利にはたらく可能性がある。主催者によれば、収益の大半はロシアの軍事侵攻で荒廃したウクライナの復興に充てるという。
　現役時代にパッキャオ氏のライバルだったフロイド・メイウェザー・ジュニア氏は、総合格闘家の朝倉未来と９月２５日に日本でエキシビションを行う。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/09/07-13:45）

Manny Pacquiao, who retired from boxing last year for a tilt at the Philippines presidency, told AFP on Tuesday that he is considering an exhibition fight in Saudi Arabia in January.
The 43-year-old legendary former world champion is to hold talks over a fight against French former sparring partner Jaber Zayani in Riyadh.
We will just start discussions, Pacquiao, who previously ruled out a return to professional boxing, said by telephone from his home city of General Santos where he is preparing for a charity bout against a South Korean YouTuber.
Pacquiao ended his 26-year boxing career with a points defeat to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in August 2021 and, as well as being a former senator, made a failed bid earlier this year to be president of his country.
I will prepare in the same way I train for a real fight, Pacquiao said of his charity match against martial arts YouTuber DK Yoo on December 10 in Seoul.
The fight over six rounds has no agreed weight limit, potentially putting Pacquiao at a physical disadvantage against the bigger Yoo.
Yoo has more than 650,000 subscribers on YouTube, where he promotes his self-styled form of martial arts called warfare combat system.
I know I will not win against him but I will try my best to surprise Manny Pacquiao, Yoo said previously.
Most of the money raised from the event will go towards rebuilding homes in conflict-ravaged Ukraine, organisers said.
Pacquiao is set to join other retired boxing greats who have ventured onto the exhibition circuit.
Floyd Mayweather, who has called himself the pioneer of exhibitions, dominated YouTuber Logan Paul in a fight last year and knocked out Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in two minutes in December 2018.
Both fights were widely ridiculed.
Mayweather, Pacquiao's rival from their boxing days, will fight Japanese mixed martial arts star Mikuru Asakura in Japan later this month.