Exhibition fever has come for Manny Pacquiao.
The Filipino icon will partake in an exhibition bout promoted by Rizin, the Japanese mixed martial arts league, sometime in 2023, the fighter announced Saturday in Japan.
In a surprise appearance at Rizin FF 40 in Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, the eight-division boxing champion said he signed with Rizin to face a not-yet-confirmed Japanese opponent in 2023.
“A few months ago, I was here as a guest and today I have a very exciting announcement tonight,” Pacquiao said during an in-ring presentation. “I have agreed with Rizin to fight next year. The date will soon be announced and also my opponent that Rizin will choose. And I’m open and excited to fight a Japanese fighter. Thank you.”
When Rizin president Nobuyuki Sakakibara asked Pacquiao if he was open to “any” Japanese opponent, Pacquiao indicated that was the case.
“Any Japanese opponent,” he said.
Pacquiao retired from the sport in 2021, following a points loss to Yordenis Ugas, in order to focus on a bid for his country’s presidency. (He ended up coming up way short).
He returned to the ring, albeit in an exhibition, in December, against South Korean mixed martial artist DK Yoo. The outing was mostly silly, as Yoo had virtually no boxing experience.
In a press conference after the initial announcement, Pacquiao promised that his next opponent would be of a far higher caliber than Yoo.
“It’s good to have an exhibition fight in December,” Pacquiao said. “My opponent [was] a martial art[ist] who does not know boxing at all. That’s why he experienced a hard time in the ring. But this next exhibition match here in Japan, this is different. Probably my opponent is a professional MMA fighter, so he knows how to punch.
Rizin famously promoted an exhibition bout involving Pacquiao’s longtime nemesis Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018, that ended up with Mayweather stopping the kickboxing star in the first round.
Mayweather defeated Pacquiao in a ballyhooed super fight in 2015. Pacquiao has repeatedly called for a rematch.
Could a Mayweather-Pacquiao exhibition fight be possible down the line? Pacquiao took a diplomatic stance to the query.
“My plan today is one of a kind,” Pacquiao said. “Let’s finish first this commitment to Rizin, and then we’ll talk about it.