ONE Championship is challenging eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao to compete in the MMA organization’s future boxing matches.
ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong bared on Tuesday that the Asia’s biggest mixed martial arts outfit will hold its first boxing match on October 6 in Bangkok Thailand, featuring WBC super flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand.
Surprisingly, the ONE president invited Pacquiao, the boxing icon who now has 60 wins in 69 matches, to be part of their historic event and defend his WBA Welterweight World Championship.
“I want to extend an invitation to Manny Pacquiao. Me inviting Manny Pacquiao fighting in ONE Championship, I’m dead serious. If he says, yes let’s do it,” said Sityodtong on Tuesday during the press launch of ONE Championship Reign of Kings at the City of Dreams Manila.
“I would love for him to defend his title here in the Philippines and give the Filipino fans what they want,” he added.
A week ago, Pacquiao, who bought a stake in ONE Championship in 2014, proved that he still has it at age 39 after dethroning Argentinian Lucas Matthysse via seventh-round TKO in the Fight of Champions in Kuala Lumpur.
Sityodtong will be grateful to have the fighting senator in a ONE Championship boxing match and he is open to having talks with Pacquiao, who now has his own MP Promotions.
“Manny, congratulations. I’m amazed by your legendary career,” ONE president added. “Let’s join hands, let’s give the Filipino fans what they want, let’s do it all Filipino heroes card, mega-mega card that blast out the whole world.”
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