Legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao is not done competing professionally and announced on Saturday he will be taking his talents to Japan in 2023 to fight for Rizin.
Earlier this month, PacMan competed in an exhibition bout against DK Yoo in South Korea. On Saturday, he announced his next career move.
During the broadcast of a co-promoted event between top MMA organizations Bellator MMA and Rizin, the 44-year-old revealed that he has signed a contract to compete for Japan’s top combat sports promotion next year, against an opponent to be named later, per MMA Fighting's Damon Martin:
“A few months ago, I was here as a guest, and today I have a very exciting announcement. I have agreed with Rizin to fight next year, the date will soon be announced, and also my opponent that Rizin will choose. I’m open and excited to fight a Japanese fighter.”
Pacquiao is not the first nearly retired boxing icon to take his talents to Japan for Rizin. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has competed twice previously for the promotion. He had a knockout win over kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018 and a technical knockout victory over MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura in September.
Pacquiao’s last relevant bout in boxing was a surprise unanimous-decision loss to short-notice replacement Yordenis Ugas in an August 2021 title fight. It is unclear if Pacquiao’s bout in Rizin will be an exhibition or an official bout. The boxing great currently owns a 68-8-2 record in the ring.
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