Manny Pacquiao seemed nothing like his previous self in a three-round exhibition towards former kickboxer Rukiya Anpo final Saturday night time in a non-scored bout on the Saitama Tremendous Enviornment, Saitama, Japan.
Pacquiao appeared weak, gradual, and feeble, getting batted across the ring by the 6’0″ stork-like Anpo final night time. When you’re a fan of Pacquiao, it was robust to observe as a result of he obtained hit loads by the Japanese fighter, who didn’t take it simple on him.
The previous kickboxer landed some vicious pictures at Pacquiao, and it was stunning that he stayed on his ft with out getting dropped or knocked out. No matter energy Manny as soon as had was absent towards Anpo, and he didn’t have the blazing hand velocity both.
It’s unclear how a lot Pacquiao was paid for the exhibition match towards Anpo. No matter it was, he earned his cash taking all these heavy headshots from the tall Japanese fighter, who was loading up on his punches and seemingly on the lookout for a knockout towards the famous person.
Pacquiao’s inactivity since 2021 has taken loads out of him, and he doesn’t have the facility that he as soon as did. Manny will return quickly to problem Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title. Hopefully, Pacquiao will change his thoughts after his efficiency towards Anpo.
Barrios not too long ago beat Yordenis Ugas, the fighter Pacquiao misplaced to in 2021. That’s not an excellent signal for Pacquiao as a result of he’s preventing at too excessive of a degree for him to unseat him within the WBC welterweight title.
There aren’t too many boxing followers who favor Pacquiao preventing for a world title towards Barrios in his first combat again since 2021. Maybe Manny can regain his previous magic and defeat Barrios, however he’ll have to enhance his energy to take action.
Apart from the well being causes concerned with the soon-to-be 46-year-old Pacquiao preventing for a world title, it’s not honest to the contenders within the WBC’s prime 15 for him to leapfrog over them for a title shot that he hasn’t earned.
Pacquiao isn’t ranked within the prime tier at welterweight and doesn’t charge a world title shot. If he desires to do an exhibition match towards Barrios, that might be wonderful, however not for his title.
Manny seems like he’s nonetheless able to beating a few of the prime 15 contenders within the welterweight division, however not many. I’d favor Pacquiao to beat these top-tier contenders:
Conor Benn
Paddy Donovan
Cletus Seldin
Lewis Crocker
Harry Scarff
Tresean Wiggins
The remainder of the contenders at 147 would seemingly handily beat Pacquiao, and lots of would knock him out.
