In Dubai this weekend, boxing star Manny Pacquiao was busy mixing basketball with business.
The Filipino southpaw, boxing's only eight-division world champion, headlined a Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League event at Hamdan Sports Complex on Friday and Saturday, playing in two exhibition matches. He even top-scored in each, with impressive hauls of 35 and 42 points, respectively.
Pacquiao spoke to The National about plans to fight in the UAE next year in what would be a milestone moment for boxing in the country.
Pacquiao’s three-bout contract with Premier Boxing Champions has one commitment left to run – he expects that to be April – leaving the WBA welterweight champion to then focus on a potential fight in the Emirates.
Pacquiao chatted about a possible Dubai debut around Expo 2020, whether Amir Khan would make the perfect opponent for that and the latest regarding a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
