By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao promised to enter 2023 with a bang and he surely did that after announcing another exhibition match several months after his dominant performance against South Korean YouTube star DK Yoo.
Boxing’s only eight-division world champion revealed that he already agreed to partner with Rizin, a Japanese Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion organization, for his next exhibition bout of the year.
Pacquiao was present during the Rizin 40 event held at the Saitama Super Arena last December 31, 2022 and made everything official through his in-ring appearance and speech.
“I have agreed with Rizin to fight in 2023. The date will soon be announced, and also my opponent that Rizin will choose. And I’m open and excited to fight a Japanese fighter. Thank you,” Pacquiao said.
The living legend is coming off an impressive win against Yoo and even knocked the South Korean celebrity down twice in the last round.
Everything was still there. Pacman’s footwork, speed, fluid head movement, and his signature left hook.
The Filipino living legend started the bout slow and missed his first few 1-2 signature combinations but after a minute passed, Pacquiao started to gain his rhythm.
Pacquiao then never looked back and continued his offensive clinic in the next rounds. During the third, Pacman was able to rock Yoo with several double-jab punches and was clearly ahead of the scorecards.
However, it is still unknown whether Pacquaio will fight in Japan first or against undefeated French boxer Jaber Zayani who already inked a deal against the Filipino boxer last year.
According to Zayani, he negotiated the bout with Pacquiao and shared that boxing’s only eight-division world champion already agreed and signed the contract.
Under the fight negotiations, Pacquiao’s second exhibition match is scheduled on February 2023 to be held in Saudi Arabia.
“I personally negotiated with the senator together with my team and after months of talks, we finally agreed to a face-off next year. He already signed the contract, so it is a go,” said Zayani.
