By Tom Ivers
July 28, 2024
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
Manny Pacquiao’s world title shot against Mario Barrios has possibly gone up in smoke after his exhibition bout with Rukiya Anpo.
Pacquiao faced Japanese kickboxer Anpo in a three-round exhibition and although there was no official winner, everyone knew the result. Pacquiao struggled to come to terms with the height and reach of the taller competitor and was picked off at will throughout. With the performance, the Filipino’s hopes of facing Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title could be over after calls immediately started for the legend to stay retired.
In the first round, Pacquiao came out trying to force his authority on the novice boxer but was made to pay after he ate a stiff jab followed by an uppercut. The veteran attempted to cut off the ring but the left hand of Anpo kept the much smaller Pacquiao at bay. At the end of the first, Anpo turned his attacks downstairs and a right to the body brought a smile from Pacquiao as he acknowledged the shot.
Pacquiao came out for the second determined to put right what had gone wrong in round one, but it didn’t go as planned. The former champion had success early with a flurry of shots, but it didn’t last and Anpo quickly pressed forward. Pacquiao seemed to fall for an amateur trick throughout the round; Anpo would start high and finish to the body, landing every time. The round finished with a frustrated Pacquiao waving Anpo on after he was unable to come to terms with landing on the taller man.
Anpo came out for the third with a look of disbelief at how much he was landing on Pacquiao. The former kickboxer landed a big right hand that seemed to hurt Pacquiao and forced the veteran to hold. Anpo then wobbled Pacquiao again with a solid left hand, but the future Hall of Famer recovered well and finished the round swinging.
Although both fighters had their hands raised at the end of the contest, Pacquiao looked like a beaten man and was reminded why Father Time remains undefeated. His hopes of challenging Barrios are surely over as a fight against the WBC champion would be dangerous.
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