According to Sean Gibbons, President of MP Promotions, former eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao plans to land a legitimate world title fight if successful in an exhibition boxing match with kickboxer Rukiya Anpo.  The longtime confidant of Pacquiao has compared him to the NFL’s most decorated quarterback, Tom Brady, who won his last Super Bowl at 43 years old.

The 45-year-old Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) collides with Anpo, a 28-year-old former K1 world champion, on Sunday morning in Tokyo, Japan. The pair will lock horns over three, three-minute rounds at the Saitama Super Arena broadcast live on Rizin pay-per-view.

“At the moment in the gym, he looks like ‘Pacman’ Manny Pacquiao,” Gibbons said in an exclusive interview for FightsATW. “He’s got the speed, the power, everything we remember. He looks great, but he’s still got to get in there and fight, and we will see how he looks. If he does win on Sunday, we will absolutely be looking to fight Mario Barrios for the WBC world title, or Gervonta Davis! He wants a real fight; he still feels he can compete at the top. He’s the Tom Brady of boxing. He’s like [Bernard] Hopkins, [George] Foreman. These guys transcend; age means nothing. Manny does not fight like he is 45, he fights like he is 25.

 

“I think he is going to look spectacular this weekend. The reception in Japan has been incredible. Anywhere he goes, anything he does, he has a tremendous media following. I think there will be 40,000 people at the fight; it will be a complete sellout. Manny in Asia is a superstar. He just got voted by ESPN as the number one Asian athlete of the century!”

The Filipino superstar hung up his gloves following a unanimous decision defeat to Yordenis Ugas in 2021, who was a late replacement for the injured Errol Spence Jr. Pacman would return to action in an exhibition bout with South Korean YouTuber and martial artist DK Yoo on December 11, 2022, but had dismissed that the fight was any way linked to a return to professional boxing.

Pacquiao is gearing up for another political campaign where he will run for Senate in his native Philippines next year following an unsuccessful stab at the Presidency in 2022. However, despite his career in politics showing no immediate end, Pacquiao still has plans for at least one more world championship fight. “He multi-tasks; he enjoys everything and is a busy guy,” Gibbons explained. “He still gets so much love. There were over 100 fans in the gym where he was working out. He gives everyone a little smile or a wink so everyone knows that Manny is with them. He’s the People’s Champion; he always has been. People just love to be around him.

“His last fight was with DK Yoo some years ago now, but he feels really good. You could see in the video I sent you the power and the speed; it’s still Manny Pacquiao. They say there are no exhibitions in Japan. I tell you that someone is getting knocked out at this event.” The WBC has stated that they would sanction a fight between Pacquiao and their current welterweight title holder Barrios. Pacquiao’s legend still entices promoters, with England’s Conor Benn also being heavily linked with a return.

“There is still a demand because coming out of the Ugas fight everyone was so depressed,” Gibbons added. “Manny is not Floyd Mayweather; he doesn’t have to join the circus. Manny has real skills left at the highest level. That’s why he wants to fight for the WBC belt. It was his first belt in boxing. He would love to take on Gervonta Davis, that’s something that excites him. He’s been doing it for 30 years; he just loves to fight. That’s what he does.

“He could do what Mayweather is doing at the moment at 50 or 60. He could get off the couch and play with that type of stuff, but he still wants to fight the best. That’s what the objective is after Sunday.”