A playful jab or a genuine bid to tempt an old rival into battle?
Manny Pacquiao has appeared to call out Floyd Mayweather Jr in a strange video on social media, offering the American an intriguing proposition.
Talk of a rematch to their much-hyped 2015 encounter, which Mayweather won on points, has swirled for some time, with the UAE even mooted as a possible destination.
On Sunday, Pacquiao posted a video on his official Twitter account alongside Chinese business magnate and billionaire Jack Ma. It was entitled “Message to Mayweather”.
The eight-division world champion, fresh from July’s comprehensive victory against Keith Thurman, held the pads for his pal, while Ma, sporting bright red boxing gloves, threw some punches.
Pacquiao then turns to the camera to declare: “Floyd Mayweather, if you want a real fight, fight me. If you want an exhibition, my guy, my friend Jack Ma will take care of you. The Real Manny team.”
Ma chimes in: “Yeah, I’m ready. Any time, any place. Manny team is ready.”
Whether or not that will coerce Mayweather out of retirement remains to be seen. The undefeated boxer retired in 2017 with an impressive 50-0 record. Pacquiao, meanwhile, is expected to fight again in March or April, months after his 41st birthday.
The WBA welterweight champion's opponent is yet to be confirmed.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000