Retired boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is gearing up for an iconic clash against Muay Thai icon Buakaw Banchamek scheduled for January 2024.
Renowned Thai sports insider Bebangpakong (Worathep Makapokha) recently unveiled exciting news on Facebook about the upcoming showdown between Pacquiao and Banchamek. This event is titled ‘The Match 3,’ and is set to captivate audiences worldwide in the early months of next year.
The information was reportedly shared by the event’s promoter Vinij Lertratanachai, the CEO of Fresh Air Festival Co Ltd.
On July 21, a press conference is slated to take place at 4:00 p.m. ICT. This is where additional details will be unveiled. Among the highlights of this gathering will be an official contract signing ceremony, solidifying the participation of these two combat sports stars.
Manny Pacquiao & Buakaw Banchamek?! What’s going on here? pic.twitter.com/IpwyEFkNrT
— Muay Thai Chai (@muaythaichai) July 14, 2023
Fresh Air Festival gained recognition for organizing the highly anticipated Manchester United and Liverpool football match last year. The event was famously known as ‘THE MATCH Bangkok Century Cup 2022.’
In a similar fashion, the company also hosted ‘The 2023 Pathum Thani Six-Red World Championship.’ This was a thrilling six-red snooker tournament hailed as ‘The Match 2’ in March.
Buakaw is an iconic figure in Muay Thai. He boasts an illustrious career comprising over 270 bouts. His accolades include being a former WMC and WBC Muay Thai world champion, as well as a two-time K-1 World Max tournament winner.
Despite stepping away from the sport in 2019, Buakaw has competed in exhibition bouts and kickboxing matches. At BKFC Thailand 3 in September, he secured a remarkable first-round knockout victory against Erkan Varo.
Buakaw’s next thrilling encounter will be at BKFC Asia 5 on November 5.
Manny Pacquiao is undoubtedly a household name and requires no introduction. He has earned a place as one of the most revered boxers in the history of the sport.
Boasting an extraordinary career, Pacquiao achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first and only eight-division world champion. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the first to win the lineal championship in five distinct weight classes.
Pacquiao’s recent endeavors have focused on his political career, as he served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. However, his legacy in boxing remains unrivaled.
Pacquiao’s professional record stands at an impressive 62-8. His most recent bout took place in August 2021 against Yordenis Ugás. It resulted in a unanimous decision loss for him.
Reflecting on his career, Pacquiao acknowledged the end of an era in a September 2021 interview with Toni Gonzaga. He stated: “My boxing career is already over. It’s done because I’ve been in boxing for a long time and my family says that it is enough.”