Manny Pacquiao, Conor Benn in talks for welterweight fight
Fighters come face to face in Saudi Arabia hoping to make a deal
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Legendary eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao, who has long said he would come out of retirement for a significant fight, and Conor Benn are in discussions to meet in a welterweight fight in the coming months.
Pacquiao, adviser Sean Gibbons, Benn and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn met to discuss a deal on Thursday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the likely location for the fight it is it made, and where Hearn is co-promoting Friday’s Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou heavyweight fight.
Pacquiao and Benn came face to face for cameras and also spoke to DAZN about the potential fight, which would need His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, which is responsible for bankrolling the major sports and entertainment events in the kingdom, to agree to put up enough money to make it happen — probably in the $30 million neighborhood.
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