By MARK REY MONTEJO
Manny Pacquiao will hold another exhibition match – this time against Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek in Thailand next year.
The two icons of combat sports officially unveiled their fight in a press conference held at Icon Siam Park in Bangkok on Friday, July 21.
Pacquiao, 44, returned to Thailand after 18 years for their bout dubbed as ‘The Match of the Legend.’
Despite his over 200 Muay Thai fights, Banchamek, 41, is facing a huge challenge fighting the former senator of the Philippines since the bout – a six 3-minute rounds – is practically a boxing setting.
According to James Goyder, both fighters must have a weight requirement of 70 kilos (155 pounds).
This marks the second exhibition fight for Pacquiao since beating popular Korean DK Yoo last December.
In his last professional fight, Pacquiao lost to Cuban Yordenis Ugàs via unanimous decision in their 12-round showdown, a defeat that forced the boxing icon to retire.
Like Pacquiao, Banchamek has his own rags-to-riches story to tell as he fought at a very young age to escape poverty.
Banchamek has a fighting record of 240-24-14 with 73 KO’s while Pacquiao finished his legendary boxing career with 62 wins, 8 losses and 2 draws.
