EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao will be back in the ring in a legend vs. legend boxing exhibition against Muay Thai superstar Buakaw Banchamek sometime next year.Pacquiao went to Thailand on July 20, 2023 and met with Buakaw to formally announce their boxing exhibition bout.
The 44-year-old Pacquiao officially retired from boxing in 2021 following a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in a World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight fight in Las Vegas.
However, Pacquiao never fully left boxing and fought famous South Korean Youtuber DK Yoo in a charity exhibition last year in South Korea late last year. Pacquiao beat Yoo by unanimous decision.
Pacquiao is arguably one of the best boxers in history. He’s boxing’s only eight-division world champion. Pacquiao won world titles at flyweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight.
In a storied career that spanned almost three decades, Pacquiao has been im many memorable fights. He has fought the best of the best, the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Rocky Hatton and Shane Mosley.
Pacquiao finished his career with a record of 62 wins, eight losses and two draws with 39 wins by knockout.
Like Pacquiao, Buakaw is also considered one of the best in his sport, Muay Thai.
Buakaw is a two-time Omnoi Stadium champion, Lumpinee Stadium Toyota Marathon champion, Thailand Featherweight titleholder, two-time K-1 World MAX champion and 2011 and 2012 Thai Fight tournament winner.
Buakaw last fought in Muay Thai on May 6 in Rizin 42 in Japan, wherein he fought Rukiya Anpo to a draw. He also entered bareknuckle boxing and knocked out Erkan Varol in BKFC Thailand last year.
Buakaw has a kickboxing and Muay Thai record of 240 wins, 24 defeats and 14 draws with 73 victories by knockout. (EKA)