Manny Pacquiao to fight in the UAE? Bob Arum to attend ‘meeting’ over Middle East event

Many Pacquiao is set to return from retirement in November, while a fight in the Middle East is again a possibility. Al Bello / Getty Images

The prospect of Manny Pacquiao staging a fight in the UAE has been given new hope after the boxing superstar’s promoter, Bob Arum, revealed he will hold talks about an event in the Middle East.

Pacquiao, 37, officially retired from boxing following his last fight, a points victory against American Timothy Bradley in April.

Although it seems the eight division world champion is plotting his return to the ring, with trainer Freddie Roach expecting Pacquiao to fight again in November.

Pacquiao’s retirement U-turn also opens the door for an event to finally take place in the UAE after several failed attempts for host a fight in the Emirates.

• Exclusive interview – Bob Arum reflects on Pacquiao: 'My job was to present Manny as he really is, people just fell in love with him'

There had been talk of a showdown between Pacquiao and Briton Amir Khan in Dubai, but that failed to materialise, while the UAE was considered an outside option for the Filipino’s mega-bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr, although the American refused to fight outside of Las Vegas.

Pacquiao is no stranger to taking his fights around the world with two of his last five bouts taking place in Macau.

Promoter Arum, writing on his Twitter account, said he is set to have discussions regarding a Pacquiao event on Sunday, which at the very least suggests interest from Pacquiao to fight in the region.

While the UAE, with its prominent Filipino population, would be the ideal location for a Pacquiao fight in the Middle East, there has also been suggestions that Qatar would be interested in hosting an event.

Pacquiao has accumulated a professional fight record of 58 wins with 38 knockouts, six defeats and two draws.

His comeback to boxing is expected to be made more complicated by his recent appointment to the Congress of the Philippines in June when he was elected senator and will serve a six-year term until 2022.

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