Manny Pacquiao is targeting an historic first fight in Dubai to coincide with the beginning of Expo 2020, having decided he wants to “experience” competing in the emirate.
The Filipino star, in Dubai this weekend to headline a Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League event, told The National that he is using his trip to also discuss staging a high-profile bout for late next year.
Having last fought in July, Pacquiao expects to take to the ring again in April, possibly against unbeaten American Errol Spence Jr, which would mark the conclusion to his three-fight deal with Premier Boxing Champions.
The UAE has never before staged a major boxing event despite numerous attempts to host Pacquiao, the sport’s only eight-division world champion, most notably in 2017 when a prospective clash with Amir Khan never materialised.
However, Pacquiao is intent on fighting in Dubai – the recently opened Coca-Cola Arena has been suggested as a possible venue – and has earmarked November next year as a potential date. The Expo begins on October 20.
"I have a scheduled fight, probably for April next year, so after that," the WBA welterweight champion said. "It's a good thing because there's a huge Expo next year here, which starts October-November, so it's good timing [between fights] from April to November. That gives me time. That's the initial plan right now.
“I’ve decided to experience a fight here in Dubai in the future. That’s my thinking. And also bringing my MP Promotions boxing here. It’s good. This is going to be a great opportunity to promote our sport here.”
Asked if Khan, a former sparring partner, represented an obvious choice to face in Dubai, Pacquiao said: “We’ll see. If people want Amir Khan, or whoever. Or anybody that’s popular.”
That said, rumours regarding a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr persist, fuelled by Pacquiao and the American recently exchanging jibes on social media. The pair met in 2015, in the richest fight in boxing history, when Pacquiao lost on unanimous decision. It later emerged he went into the fight with an injured shoulder.
Mayweather has since retired, unbeaten at 50-0, while Pacquiao's victory against Keith Thurman this summer was his third world title fight in 12 months. Nevertheless, the feeling remains that Pacquiao considers Mayweather unfinished business.
"My team and his team are talking right now," he said. “This is just about negotiations, about the formal discussions. So I don’t know what will happen."
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Manny Pacquiao wows Dubai fans with basketball skills
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On whether the constant speculation bothers him, Pacquiao said: “No. I just let people talk and talk.”
Talk surrounding Pacquiao’s immediate opponent is sure to ramp up this weekend, when IBF champion Spence mets WBC title-holder Shawn Porter in their unification bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night.
Undefeated in his 25 professional fights, Spence said this week that, should he see off Porter, a bout with Pacquiao would "definitely happen" in 2020.
“That would be good,” Pacquiao said. “Oh yeah, I’m excited for whoever is the winner of that fight.
“I think Spence will win, but it’s not an easy fight; it’s going to be a hard fight. Porter is a good boxer also; he was my sparring mate before. But Spence is faster than Porter so he will win by unanimous decision.”
Whoever emerges victorious, Pacquiao will be 41 by the time he next competes, but insists he feels in fine shape following his victory against Thurman. He knocked down the previously undefeated American in the opening round, before claiming the victory on a split decision. It took Pacquiao's record to 62-7-2 (39 KO).
And, even though he is approaching a 72nd professional bout - promoter Bob Arum last week called for his former client to retire amid fears of suffering long-lasting damage - Pacquiao said he is not looking beyond boxing just yet.
“My thinking is that people are saying ‘Manny is getting old, getting slower’," Pacquiao said. “It’s giving me a challenge and is going to be a challenge for me to work harder compared to before. Before I was just 90-95 per cent, but then hearing that I was 100 per cent, 100 per cent.
“I’m not getting slowed down or getting tired of what I’m doing, because I’m happy, and I’m excited doing that. Because that’s the real evidence of being passionate for this sport.
“People say ‘Ah this is my passion, I’m so passionate for this sport’. But when they get to champion and reach the top they’re getting tired, slower, more distracted, especially when it comes to preparation.
“If boxing’s really your passion, work hard, manage yourself in training and with the determination and discipline you can do that. Because that’s your motivation. The thing is people just say that in words, not in action. But for me it’s different. When I say boxing is my passion I give my best, because it truly is my passion.”
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
T20 World Cup Qualifier, Muscat
UAE FIXTURES
Friday February 18: v Ireland
Saturday February 19: v Germany
Monday February 21: v Philippines
Tuesday February 22: semi-finals
Thursday February 24: final
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed