By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Retired Filipino boxing legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao isn’t done accepting international exhibition bouts.
After an inked deal with South Korean YouTube star DK Yoo scheduled to take place this December, Pacquiao has agreed to another exhibition match against undefeated French boxer Jaber Zayani.
According to Zayani, he negotiated the bout with Pacquiao and shared that boxing’s only eight-division world champion already agreed and signed the contract.
Under the fight negotiations, Pacquiao’s second exhibition match is scheduled on February 2023 to be held in Saudi Arabia.
“I personally negotiated with the senator together with my team and after months of talks, we finally agreed to a face-off next year. He already signed the contract, so it is a go,” said Zayani.
Unlike DK Yoo’s proposal where a six-round match was agreed upon by both parties, Zayani confirmed that they will be squaring off in eight rounds using eight-ounce gloves.
In terms of the weight limit, Zayani and Pacquiao have also agreed that they will be setting a free weight the same as DK Yoo’s fight.
Zayani is one of France’s rising stars and is currently holding an impressive 18-0 record with 11 knockouts.
His last bout was a victory against Pinoy boxer Jonel Gadapan where he won via a second-round technical knockout.
“Call it an exhibition or something but when the senator signed the deal, I told him to prepare well because I’m going to give him a real fight. He then told me, ‘you better be prepared,” Zayani added.
