The 44-year-old Filipino personally informed the fans about this when he entered the ring at the New Year’s Rizin 40 tournament in Tokyo.
“I was here as a guest a few months ago and today I have an interesting announcement,” Pacquiao said. “I have agreed with Rizin to fight next year – the date and the opponent Rizin will choose will be announced soon. I look forward to the confrontation with the Japanese fighter with delight.”
After completing his professional career in 2021, Manny Pacquiao played several exhibition matches, and also attended the exhibition match of his former rival Floyd Mayweather, who in September of this year at the Rizin tournament knocked out Japanese Mikuru Asakura in the second round.
The last professional fight of the ex-world boxing champion in eight weight categories was held in August last year, following the results of 12 rounds, losing by unanimous decision to the current WBA welterweight title holder Yordenis Ugas.