Manny Pacquiao returns to the boxing ring next week in Japan after a last minute change of opponent.
Many think next week is just a warm up fight for Pacquiao ahead of a world title shot against Mario Barrios before the end of the year.
They are quite wrong about that however, very wrong no less.
Pacquiao is taking on a much bigger fighter than himself in the form of kickboxing champion Rukiya Aapo.
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28-year-old Anpo is 6 feet tall and will tower over the smaller 5 feet 5 inches now 45-year-old Pacquiao.
This cannot be taken for granted.
What’s more, Pacquiao has not exactly had a lot of time to study him or prepare for him either.
Given the fact Pacquiao thought he was fighting an MMA champion until a last minute change to Anpo recently.
This isn’t like when Mayweather fought in RIZIN a few years ago and outweighed his younger kickboxing opponent by more than 25 pounds on the night.
Mayweather bringing his own referee in Kenny Bayless to Japan with him that night as he battered and knocked out his Japanese foe left crying in the ring.
Pacquiao hasn’t given himself any of those kind of advantages, at all.
Even more is the fact Pacquiao has not been very active either in the ring and considering his age with this too.
He hasn’t been in a professional boxing ring in a pro fight at this point since 2021 against Cuban Ugas.
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He lost a unanimous points decision that night too.
Pacquiao has not actually won a professional boxing fight since 2019, incredibly six years ago against Keith Thurman.
Even that night he only won by the closest of margins by split decision, too.
Pacquiao is going to have to rely on his speed, experience and ability in this week this time next weekend. He really will.
That is most certain.
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Some last minute study this coming week with coach Buboy will be needed on this very tall, strong, little known about young fighter he takes on next weekend.
Anpo has 14 knockouts in kickboxing too so he will be able to punch a little bit if he can use that height to in any way his advantage.
Pacquiao cannot afford a slip up here.
Roll on.
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