Manny Pacquiao (right) is all set to face MMA champion Chihiro Suzuki. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
About a year and a half removed from his last match, Manny Pacquiao has been spending his time completing side quests.
The boxing icon has been caught on social media dabbling in endurance motorcycling, tennis, pool, and even trying out his luck in chess against an equally legendary sporting figure in Efren Reyes.
Pacquiao, now 45, is scheduled to complete another quest postretirement when he returns to an old stomping ground next month.
“I came here to fight this coming July 28 … I remember my first and last fight here in Japan—that was in ’98—and it [finished in the] first round. It’s my mission to come back and do it again,” he said in a live-streamed presser on Monday noon, promoting his specialized fight against Japanese-Peruvian mixed martial artist Chihiro Suzuki.
READ: Pacquiao set for exhibition, in talks for title bout vs Barrios
“Though [this] fight is only three rounds, I’ll do [my] best to make it faster than that,” the former senator added, referring to his first-round knockout of Shin Terao in Tokyo that lasted just under three minutes.
Pacquiao will be battling Suzuki, a two-sport champion, in a 150-pound boxing contest at Saitama Arena penciled to go for three, three-minute rounds.
The fight, which will be staged under the banner of Rizin Fighting Federation, will also be the first time in over a decade that Pacquiao figures outside his usual fighting weight.
And that shouldn’t be a problem, according to the former—and only—eight-division boxing champion.
READ: Pacquiao wants KO win vs Japanese MMA fighter Chihiro Suzuki
“Sixty-eight kilograms is 149 pounds, so a little bit heavier than my weight, 147,” Pacquiao said shortly after doing math with his smartphone. “But it’s OK. I’ve been in 154 before with (Antonio) Margarito. I’m used to fighting at a bigger weight, so nothing to worry about.”
Kickboxing champ, too
Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision over Margarito for the World Boxing Council super welterweight championship in November 2010.
Suzuki is a champion in both mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing disciplines and is eager to tap his expertise in those sports to conquer the legendary boxer.
“I know that a boxer’s punches won’t land on Pacquiao. But I’m an MMA fighter and I do believe that MMA strikes will land,” he said with the aid of a translator.
“In this fight, he may teach me what boxing is, but I’ll teach him what MMA is about,” he added.
Pacquiao responded in a way only Pacquiao could.
“Boxing is not easy to learn. Chihiro wants to experience [that]. I’m sure, on July 28, he’ll learn more about boxing,” he said with a smirk.
“I’ll teach him more about boxing.”
Pacquiao’s last fight was in an exhibition against YouTuber DK Yoo in South Korea. The former defeated the hometown bet with a 6-round unanimous decision. INQ