Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images
One of the world’s richest people wants to fight one of the world’s richest fighters.
Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba and reportedly the second richest person in the world, has challenged Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to a fight. Ma challenged the 50-0 boxer to an exhibition bout while filming a video with former Floyd-foe Manny Pacquiao.
Message to Mayweather! pic.twitter.com/nS3K9a0SCY
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) October 27, 2019
In the short clip Pacquiao, who lost to Mayweather via unanimous decision in 2015, tells the camera, “Floyd Mayweather, if you want a real fight, fight me. If you want an exhibition, my guy, my friend, Jack Ma will take care of you.” (h/t CNN)
In the video Ma then says, “I am ready. Any time. Any place. Manny’s team is ready.”
Ma, whose net worth is reported to be around $38 billion, stepped down from his role as executive chairman of the Alibaba Group last year. He started that company in 1999 and made his vast fortune primarily from facilitating sales of products out of China.
When he stepped away from Alibaba Group Ma said it was so he could pursue philanthropy and his various passions. One of those passions is martial arts, so much so that Ma starred alongside Jet Li in a short film titled Gong Shou Dao, where he played a tai chi master.
Some of Ma’s philanthropic efforts include the Netpreneur initiative that grants ten one-million dollar prices to ten African entrepreneurs each year and a $14.6 million fund to develop education in Tibet.
Mayweather, a multiple time convicted domestic abuser, had his last professional bout on August 26th, 2017, versus then popular UFC star Conor McGregor. That bout ended in a TKO for Mayweather in the 10th round. The win moved Mayweather’s record to 50-0. He then announced his retirement from the sport.
Mayweather did appear in a boxing ring late last year during an exhibition bout versus Japanese kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa. Mayweather won that bout via first round TKO.
2015’s Mayweather vs. Pacquaio shattered box office records and was dubbed ‘Fight of the Century’. The circus around the bout was not matched by the fight itself, from an entertainment standpoint. Pacquaio has been keen on a rematch with ‘Money’ ever since.