Pacquiao wants to open boxing academy in Malaysia

Manny Pacquiao revealed his intention to open an academy in Malaysia after winning the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight belt from Lucas Matthysse on Sunday.

The 39-year-old boxing star (60-7-2, 39 KOs) defied his age and turned back the clock to beat his Argentine opponent (39-5, 36 KOs) with a seventh-round TKO — his first knockout win since 2009.

After the fight, Pacquiao was asked about his future involvement with the Malaysian boxing scene, in which he said it was something he actually discussed with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in a meeting on Thursday.

"I already talked to the Prime Minister about it," he told the media in a post-fight press conference.

"We will leave behind the training equipment we brought and used in Kuala Lumpur and donate it to the sport.

"We talked about supporting and promoting boxing in Malaysia and we are going to start [a boxing academy]."

Pacquiao, however, did not provide a timeline for the opening of the boxing academy.

Meeting The Champ!Tun Dr. M receiving Manny Pacquiao who is in Kuala Lumpur for the WBA welterweight championship. The title fight will be held at the Axiata Arena on this Sunday. Pacquiao will take on reigning champion Lucas Matthysse. pic.twitter.com/uwCjHknuSb
— Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) July 12, 2018