MANNY Pacquiao is set for a ring return in another exhibition match in early 2024.
The Filipino boxing great faces another legend in kickboxer and muay thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek in January next year in Bangkok.
Billed ‘The Match of Legends,’ the exhibition was formally announced on Friday in Thailand by event planner Fresh Air Festival led by its CEO Vinij Lertratanachai.
The 44-year-old Pacquiao attended the presser and came face-to-face with the 41-year-old Buakaw, considered as the best kickboxer Thailand ever produced.
Pacquiao came with a small entourage led by his wife Jinkee.
The match will be Pacquiao’s first since winning a similar exhibition bout in December 2022 via unanimous decision against Korean martial artist DK Yoo in Seoul.
“This is going to be an amazing fight,” said the Pacman, the only fighter in history to win titles in eight weight division.
Pacquiao, who retired in 2021 following his loss to Yordenis Ugas in their WBO welterweight title fight, has a record of 62-8-2 with 39 KOs.
Buakaw, meanwhile, has a long history of fighting in both kickboxing and muay thai.
Of course, Thailand will always have a special place in Pacquiao’s heart since he won the first of his eight world titles in the same country when he scored an eight-round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul in December 1998 to claim the WBC flyweight crown.
