Manny Pacquiao off to Riyadh, KSA

Screengrab from Manny Pacquiao's Facebook account

Pambansang Kama-o, Manny Pacquiao posted on his Facebook account that he's "off to Saudi Arabia" with the hashtag #RiyadhSeason. Riyadh will be hosting the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou heavyweight boxing exhibition fight this weekend.

Boxing reporter Kevin Iole tweeted earlier that the Riyadh organizer for the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou's heavyweight exhibition fight will bring some of boxing's prominent personalities including Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, Duran, Morales, Big George, and several others. Mayweather might go too.

The Saudis have paid Mike Tyson to act as Francis Ngannou’s trainer (very, Very, VERY handsomely, I’m told). They are flying in celeb boxers, including Pacquiao, Duran, Morales, Big George Foreman, MA Barrera, Joe Calzaghe, Tommy Hearns, Frank Bruno. Floyd Mayweather may go too

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 24, 2023

Wow! You know what? Riyadh is just 7 hour's drive from where I am based here in Kuwait. Applying visit visa to the kingdom become very easy online nowadays. A multiple-entry visit visa for one year will cost 30 Kuwaiti Dinars, around USD 97.

As a boxing fan, I'm very excited that big boxing match-ups are now being held on this side of the world. It gives me the option to at least watch any of these world title matches. 

My last ringside attendance was in 2015 in the Philippines at one of the now-defunct Pinoy-Pride Boxing series. It was headline by Donnie Nietes and Nonito Donaire Jr. fighting separate opponents in The Pinoy Pride 30 dubbed "D-Day".