JUST like old times for Manny Pacquiao.
The retired boxing icon continued to draw crowds three years since retiring from boxing as he showed flashes of his old form during a media workout prior to his exhibition match against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo on Sunday at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
The 45-year-old Pacquiao did the mitts with long-time trainer Buboy Fernandez at the packed Kod Lab gym in Shinjuku City.
He also did some stretching and shadow boxing before several Japanese mediamen who can’t seem to get enough of the Filipino boxing great.
Pacquiao will be taking on Anpo, the 28-year-old Japanese kickboxer and former K-1 super-lightweight champion, in a three-round special attraction put up by Japan outfit RIZIN.
He was initially set to take on Japanese martial artist Chihiro Suzuki, but Anpo came to the picture after the 25-year-old Suzuki of Peruvian descent suffered a freak accident in training.
It’s the first time Pacquiao will be climbing the ring in two years since scoring a unanimous decision over South Korean martial artist DK Yoo in a similar exhibition bout.
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