Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming exhibition match in Japan has taken an unexpected turn. The 45-year-old Filipino boxing legend was originally scheduled to face Chihiro Suzuki on July 28 in Saitama. The match was set to be a three-round exhibition, with each round lasting three minutes, and no official judges’ decision. However, Suzuki was forced to withdraw from the fight due to a hand injury.
Organizers have announced that Suzuki will be replaced by fellow Japanese mixed martial artist Rukiya Anpo. This change of opponent comes as Pacquiao hinted at a potential return to professional boxing. Earlier this month, he revealed that he was in discussions for a comeback fight against American boxer Mario Barrios. The fight could potentially be for the WBC welterweight world title, but Pacquiao cautioned that it was still in the early stages and far from confirmed.
Pacquiao’s last professional fight was in August 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas. After his boxing career, he entered politics, running for President of the Philippines in the May 2022 election. However, he was defeated by a significant margin. He returned to the ring for a one-off exhibition match in Seoul, South Korea in December 2022, where he faced a South Korean YouTuber.
While his return to professional boxing remains uncertain, Pacquiao’s participation in this exhibition match in Japan offers fans a chance to witness his skills once again. With a new opponent in place, the focus now shifts to July 28th and the exciting bout that awaits.
