Pacquiao Gets Outclassed During Rukiya Anpo Exhibition – ‘Father Time Is Unbeatable’

July 28, 2024

6 months

Pacquiao Gets Outclassed During Rukiya Anpo Exhibition - 'Father Time Is Unbeatable'

Manny Pacquiao faced kickboxer Rukiya Anpo during their three-round exhibition which ended with both men seeing the final bell, as there was no official winner.

The event took place at the Super RIZIN 3 card in Japan. Before the fight, there was plenty of hype over Manny’s potential return to the pro ranks. He has been linked with a fight against WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. Pacman walked away from professional boxing after losing to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. Barrios has already beaten Ugas, meaning Manny had to show something new to justify getting the Barrios bout.

Pacquiao Second Best

The stage was set for a big clash, as Ryan Garcia arrived to show support for Manny. Pacman was the second-best fighter. Anpo started very fast, connecting with an uppercut on Manny. He was using his jab well with Pacquiao struggling to find his range. Pacquiao responded by connecting with a right hand in the second.

However, Anpo was far more dangerous as he was peppering the body. Anpo then landed an overhand as he went stop Pacman in the final round, as the Filipino tied up. The fight ended with both men on their feat. In reality, if it was being scored, Manny would have come out second best. This raises question marks over whether he should face Barrios.

🇵🇭Manny Pacquiao getting pieced up by kickboxer Rukiya Anpo 安保瑠輝也 in an exhibition in Japan today.

ANY talk of him fighting Mario Barrios for the WBC Welterweight Championship later this year is laughable! pic.twitter.com/LZHAj5RTDu
— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) July 28, 2024

Should He Return?

A win over Barrios makes Pacquiao the oldest welterweight champion in history at 45. In doing so, he would break his record, which he set when he defeated Keith Thurman to win the WBA Welterweight Title. At that point, Manny was 40-years-old. It is tough to see how Manny can improve after three years out of the pro ranks. Sean Gibbons, the manager of Manny’s promotional company, said the fight would have to happen by the end of the year.

“It’s a 50-50 fight but a very winnable fight for Manny. Barrios is the perfect fighter. He has the right style because he’s there to be hit and he brings it. He wants to mix it up. Over the next month or so, we’ll either be able to make the fight or won’t. … It’s very important to get a fight in by December. This is a very important time right now. We have a very short window. This could be the last year because Manny might run for office next year in the Philippines,” Gibbons stated

Other Results

Mikuru Asakura defeated Ren Hiramoto (MMA) via a first-round TKO

Manny Pacquiao vs. Rukiya Anpo ends with no official winner

Yuta Kubo defeated Yutaka Saito (MMA) via a second-round TKO (body kick)

Hiromasa Ougikubo defeated vMakoto Shinryu (MMA) via a unanimous decision

Hideo Tokoro defeated Hiroya Kondo (MMA) via a first-round TKO

Ryusei Ashizawa defeated Koji Tanaka (MMA) via a unanimous decision

John Dodson defeated Takaki Soya (BKB) via unanimous decision (50-42, 49-43, 47-45)

Rena Kubota defeated Kate Oyama (MMA) via second-round TKO

Ren Sugiyama defeated Hiroaki Suzuki (MMA) via first-round TKO

Tai Emery defeated Charisa Sigala (BKB) via first-round TKO

Kazumasa Majima defeated Suguru Nii (MMA) via a second-round submission (rear-naked choke)

Comments

Yeah, whoever watched this and went away with the idea of wanting to see this man against an active top tier fighter is a terrible human being as far as I'm concerned.
— Thell (@Thellytell) July 28, 2024

I expected him to get juiced to the gills for this, but he had a soft "barely trained" body.
— Tom (@TWALTZ) July 28, 2024

He trained only one week with one sparring session and he weighed 150 so we already knew
— Zhanfacto (@zhimphuklo) July 28, 2024

Anpo is a lot bigger. I think he was getting going after the first round.. but yeah beating barrios won’t be easier
— George Middleton (@george51391) July 28, 2024

Not sure how hard Manny Pacquiao trained for this exhibition, or if this just what's left of his 45-year old body. Did nothing at all to make me want to see him in a real fight ever again, whether Mario Barrios or any other relevant welterweight.
— Jake Donovan (@JakeNDaBox) July 28, 2024

Manny Pacquiao is currently getting beat up in an exhibition against a kickboxer.

Any talk of him fighting for a world championship is ludicrous!
— Tokkerū (@ATokkers5) July 28, 2024

The heart and will is there but Father Time is unfortunately’unbeatable
— Chris Barrett-Harpum (@MadeInTheManor_) July 28, 2024

We do have to note that he fought a bigger, taller and younger fighter. 140-147 is his normal weight & they fought at 152 catch weight. He gave a competitive fight for a 46yo fighter. Mayweather always choose inferior fighters even for an exhibition fight.
— LarC (@cdcabela) July 28, 2024

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