Boxing | Manny Pacquiao given new opponent for boxing return as MMA champion pulls out of Super Rizin fight
Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring will be without Rizin champion Chihiro Suzuki after he was forced out by injury
The boxing legend was due to face Suzuki, who holds belts in KNOCK OUT and Rizin, but will now take on kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in a major change-up. Suzuki recently took on Takanori Gomi, and suffered a broken hand during the contest which won’t heal in time for July 28.
Pacquiao is now going to take on Anpo in an exhibition bout over three rounds of
three minutes with no judges scoring. It could signal the beginning of a final run in the professional ranks as he eyes up Mario Barrios’ WBC world title at welterweight.
Manny Pacquiao vs Chihiro Suzuki off after MMA champion breaks hand
The news of Manny Pacquiao’s opponent change was released at a press conference yesterday, with Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara explaining that it would take a number of weeks for the injury to heal. Super Rizin will still take place as planned on July 28, with this one slight alteration.
Rukiya Anpo steps in for Chihiro Suzuki to face Manny Pacquiao
K-1 super-lightweight world champion Anpo is a different type of opponent for Pacquiao, and brings considerably less MMA experience to the ring. He is just 0-1 in the cage, and holds a more impressive kickboxing record of 27-8-1 in the professional ranks.
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