Pound-for-pound legend Manny Pacquiao grew to become the oldest welterweight champion historical past again in 2019 and now plainly the Filipino icon will try to interrupt his personal file. First, Pac-Man will make a return to the ring in a matter of weeks, as he makes an attempt to take away any ring rust forward of his title problem.
Pacquiao stays as the one fighter to carry a world title in 4 completely different many years, knocking out Chatchaii Sasakul for the WBC flyweight title in 1998 and successful a split-decision in opposition to Keith Thurman in 2019 to choose up the WBA welterweight crown – which he misplaced to Yordenis Ugas two years later, prompting his retirement from the game.
This yr, Pacquiao has been linked to a return to the skilled ring in opposition to Conor Benn in Saudi Arabia in addition to an exhibition rematch of his well-known showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr., though talks for each of these contests went quiet in current weeks. Moreover, Pacquiao hoped to compete on the Paris 2024 Olympics however his request to participate was denied by the IOC.
It has now been formally introduced that the 2000’s Fighter of the Decade will as a substitute tackle featherweight blended martial arts champion Chihiro Suzuki in a three-round exhibition in Japan in simply seven weeks’ time, Mike Coppinger stories.
“Rizin Combating Federation introduced at this time that Pacquiao will face its featherweight champion, Chihiro Suzuki, in a boxing exhibition on July 28 in Saitama, Japan. Will probably be contested at 150 kilos over three three-minute rounds as Pacquiao seems to remain sharp forward of what he hopes shall be a title shot vs. Barrios later this yr.”
As Coppinger states, Pacquiao will use the outing to get again into the swing of issues as he eyes up a shot at Mario Barrios, in a bout that might doubtlessly be for the WBC welterweight title, after Terence Crawford was named because the ‘champion in recess’ two weeks in the past.
Chatting with ESPN, the now 45-year-old declared his ambition to go away the game on a excessive and to make extra historical past.
“I made historical past at 40 beating Keith Thurman and I really feel at 45, I’ve loads left within the sport as I haven’t taken numerous punishment over the previous few years. I need to exit making historical past.”
Barrios presently holds the WBC interim title however it anticipated to both be upgraded to full world champion or not less than be granted a shot on the vacant title, as soon as Crawford decides whether or not he’ll stick round within the super-welterweight division or return to 147lbs after his combat with Israil Madrimov on August third.
To earn this place, Barrios defeated the person who final confronted Pacquiao in knowledgeable ring, Yordenis Ugas, again in September after which defended the title in opposition to Fabian Andres Maidana final month on the Canelo-Munguia undercard – that victory being the final of a three-fight win streak since consecutive defeats to Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman.
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