Manny Pacquiao brushes aside size disparity vs Rukiya Anpo

Manny Pacquiao and Japan’s Rukiya Anpo face off during the official weigh-in for their exhibition boxing match at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.–MP Promotions/Wendell Alinea

TOKYO–Manny Pacquiao is facing his tallest opponent yet on Sunday when he takes on Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition boxing match at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

The glaring size disparity, however, doesn’t faze Pacquiao at all.

“It’s not new to me to fight a bigger guy. I’m used to fighting guys bigger than me,” said Pacquiao, who tipped the scale at exactly 68 kilograms on Saturday for their 69kg catchweight bout.

READ: Japan exhibition takes Manny Pacquiao way back to 1998

Manny Pacquiao and Rukiya Anpo face old before Sunday’s exhibition at Saitama Super Arena. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/EkmTKNUN5i

— Mark Giongco (@MarkGiongcoINQ) July 27, 2024

“I have no problem with that as long as he will make the fighting weight so no problem,” added Pacquiao, who is giving up five inches in height against Anpo.

During his heyday, Pacquiao toyed with the likes of the 5-foot-10 Oscar De La Hoya in his first bout at welterweight and 5-foot-11 Antonio Margarito at light middleweight.

The gangly Anpo, who weighed 68.75 kg during Saturday’s official weigh-in, stands the tallest at 6 feet and is 17 years younger at 28.

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Anpo has the size and youth to his advantage but his boxing inexperience could be the determining factor on Sunday especially considering the fact that he’ll be on the opposing corner against one of the sport’s best fighters ever.

The three-round exhibition is a special attraction in a stacked Super RIZIN 3 card.