Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring at 45 and seemed horrible on his strategy to a beatdown by kickboxer Rukiya Anpo.
Pacquiao put a possible WBC welterweight title combat on the road as he battled Anpo at Tremendous RIZIN 3 in Japan. His efficiency has all however ended his possibilities of going through Mario Barrios.
World Boxing Information broke the information that Pacquiao was being afforded a shot out of nowhere in opposition to Barrios. WBN then revealed that World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman permitted the combat. However like Gervonta Davis vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko, one other Las Vegas superfight is off the desk.
Based mostly on his efforts within the ring on Sunday, the WBC couldn’t justify giving Pacquiao the chance.
Anpo, for his price, did all that was requested of him and used all his ring benefits to cease the ‘Pac-Man’ in his tracks. At occasions, Anpo battered the older, slower, and smaller Pacquiao and deserved to get the decision.
Nonetheless, as there have been no judges, the combat led to a draw by default after three rounds. The fighters embraced earlier than Ryan Garcia, a particular visitor of RIZIN, entered the ring to confront the pair.
Garcia mentioned, ” I need to say congrats to – I don’t know his title, Anpo. It was an awesome combat. Manny Pacquiao, you recognize you’re a legend. I need to combat in Japan. I need to combat Anpo or Manny, whoever.”
Ryan Garcia channels his interior Inspector Gadget as he challenges @anpo_rukiya and @MannyPacquiaoAfter their exhibition draw.
🎥 @RIZINTV_pic.twitter.com/KHuwSZ6Q4U
— World Boxing Information (@WorldBoxingNews) July 28, 2024
Each seemed bemused by Garcia’s look in a trench coat, calling them out when he was suspended from any type of fight till April 2025.
Anpo, who replied ‘Let’s discover out’ to Garcia, is way extra more likely to return to kickboxing, although, amid requires Pacquiao to hold up his gloves.
The place the eight-weight veteran goes from right here is anybody’s guess. One factor that’s for positive is the actual fact Manny Pacquiao received’t be capable to promote Pay-Per-Views based mostly on that efficiency.
As WBN revealed, Premier Boxing Champions have been taking a look at placing Pacquiao on a remaining PPV occasion in Las Vegas. Given what went down in Japan, it looks as if that ship has firmly sailed.
Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Be taught extra in regards to the creator, skilled boxing author, and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010. Comply with on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
