Manny Pacquiao Begins To Consider Returning To Professional Ring Next Year

Former boxer from the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao. (Photo: Twitter/@Manny Pacquiao)

JAKARTA Former boxer from the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao, is starting to consider returning to the professional ring in 2024.

The former seven division champion previously decided to retire in 2021. He last got into the ring when he lost points in the race for the WBA Super welterweight title against Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas.

After two years of not playing professional games, Pacquiao's desire to return to boxing is huge. Next year most likely he is ready to go down the mountain.

"I'm coming back," Pacquiao told 210 Boxing TV quoted by Boxing Scene.

After deciding to retire, Pacquiao had time to enter politics. He even ran for President of the Philippines last year, but then lost.

After failing to become the number one person in the Philippines, Pacquiao decided to return to the boxing ring in December 2022. At that time he scored an absolute number victory over DK Yoo in an exhibition match.

At the beginning of next year, the fighter nicknamed PacMan will return to a three-round exhibition match against martial artist Muay Thai, Buakaw Banchamek.

Pacquiao revealed that this fight was not solely for money. More than that he wants this duel to be his preparation for a professional ring.

"I have an exhibition match to test my abilities," he said.

Pacquiao is the first boxer from the Asian continent to win a professional boxing title in eight different classes, or a second boxer in the world after Oscar de la Hoya.

In addition, it was the first boxer to win seven titles in seven different classes (five world titles from five different classes and two titles from Ring Magazine for the featherweight and junior welterweight).