Manny Pacquiao announces he inked a deal with Rizin for a boxing return

Benny A. King

Manny Pacquiao retired last year but after a short stint in politics it looks like the great is once again more interested in boxing.

 Pacquiao made a surprise appearance during Rizin’s spectacular Bellator collaboration, Rizin 40 and along with Japanese MMA promoter Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced he would be competing at Rizin’s next show.

For now, no specific date or opponents are announced but Pacquiao said he’s “excited to fight a Japanese fighter” of RIZIN’s choosing.

Sakakibara asked for a confirmation, Pacquiao nodded. This is just the second of Rizin’s 5 lauded announcements to be made during the show.

Pacquiao retired from professional boxing in September 2021 after a loss to Yordenis Ugas. He’s since retuned in an exhibition against a South Korean celebrity martial artist DK Yoo.

There was speculation that Rizin might be looking to make a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao because Pacquiao was present at the Rizin show last year when Floyd Mayweather defeated Asakura in an exhibition.

Rizin card is delivering on excitement even without the announcements. There’s been a number of KO wins just in the early morning portion of the event including these.

In early December Pacquiao outlined the differences between facing someone with an MMA background and a boxing background:
“Boxing in mixed martial arts is different. It depends on the particular fighter but he knows how to punch also, he knows what is boxing.

“I have to make sure that this exhibition much will give a good fight, with good action, to make people happy.”

Pacquiao reportedly donated the whole purse he got from his exhibition to charity.

“Families in need will benefit from this event,” he said. “If there is more money raised we can add more [homes] as the construction is still ongoing.”