There has long been talk from sporting legend Manny Pacquiao that he wants to return to the ring properly, and now it’s been confirmed that two more events are in the works for 2024.
Pacquiao is an indisputable boxing great and the sport’s only eight-division world champion. He fought everyone he could in his career, but has still not tired of the game.
He retired professionally in 2021 when he lost to Yordenis Ugas in a final tilt at a world title. Despite occasional claims that he will come back in an official capacity, he has instead been on the exhibition side of things and it was recently announced that he will be returning to the ring for another.
The opponent will be kickboxing and Muay Thai talent, Buakaw Banchamek. The 41-year-old is a boxing novice and the bout, which is being billed as ‘The Match of Legends’, is scheduled for April 20 at the Imp act Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
Much of last year was dominated by talk of ‘PacMan’ wanting to try and qualify for the Olympics in Paris in 2024 but the second fight that he has announced is a re-run of one boxing’s biggest-ever events from back in 2015.
Speaking in the ring after a RIZIN event on December 31st, he confirmed he will be fighting a fellow multi-weight great and his biggest rival.
“I hope to see you here in Japan again with a big fight against Floyd Mayweather.”
Manny Pacquiao announces he’s fighting Floyd Mayweather on RIZIN in 2024 ? pic.twitter.com/EJ485tdFhO
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) December 31, 2023
The first fight came years after many boxing fans first wanted to see it and Pacquiao came out on the losing side after 12 rounds. Whilst it wasn’t confirmed whether the contest would be pro or exhibition, the latter is a safe bet.
