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$5 Million Fine for Kicking Manny Pacquiao in RIZIN

Manny Pacquiao RIZIN The boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will soon be facing former K-1 Kickboxing world champion Rukiya Anpo in a boxing…

The boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will soon be facing former K-1 Kickboxing world champion Rukiya Anpo in a boxing bout. This will take place in Super Rizin 3 on July 28 live from the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan. If the Japanese-born striker Anpo throws a kick at Pacquiao, he will find himself with quite a hefty fine.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Rukiya Anpo

The Filipino-born Manny Pacquiao is considered one of the all-time greats in boxing history. The icon has earned multiple world titles across weight classes and organizations. Incredibly, he was able to earn the Lineal title in five divisions throughout his storied career.

Since retiring from professional boxing, ‘Pac-Man’ has kept busy with a career in politics. But, has also been taking various bouts. On July 28, he will meet a kickboxing champion in RIZIN. This will be a special rules fight, similar to boxing but will include spinning back fists, and will be a three-round exhibition match.

Japan’s Rukiya Anpo has spent a lifetime in kick-sports. As a child, he had won national karate competitions. Eventually, he would turn to professional kickboxing and earn multiple titles in K-1 World GP. The striker is best known for his highlight-reel knockouts. But against Pacquiao, he will be unable to kick.

Originally, Chihiro Suzuki was to be the opponent of Pacquiao. However, Suzuki injured his hand during an exhibition boxing match against PRIDE FC champion Takanori Gomi and was forced to withdraw. Anpo stepped in to meet the Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao at 68 kg.

RIZIN president Nobuyuki Sakakibara, translated by Beyond Kickboxing, explained the stakes, “Any violation will be punishable by a $5 million fine. At the time of Tenshin vs. Mayweather in 2018 that was approximately 500 million yen. However, due to the weak yen, that figure is now around 750 million yen [laughs].” If Anpo is unable to pay that much money, “Then he will have no choice but to pay with his body [laughs].”

Super Rizin 3 will include bare-knuckle fights, and MMA matches, in addition to this special rules contest. Headlining the July 28 fight card will be the Tokyo street fighting legend Mikuru Asakura facing the highly popular Ren Hiramoto.

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Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao gets a new opponent for his return to the ring on July 28 in Saitama, Japan

Manny Pacquiao has a new opponent for his highly anticipated return to the ring. Originally, ‘PacMan’ was scheduled to…

Manny Pacquiao has a new opponent for his highly anticipated return to the ring.

Originally, ‘PacMan’ was scheduled to square off with reigning RIZIN and KNOCK OUT champion Chihiro Suzuki inside the Saitama Super Arena on July 28. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case after Suzuki reportedly broke his hand during an exhibition boxing match with Takanori Gomi on June 23 in Tokyo.

“In a recent match, Chihiro Suzuki’s right hand, right second middle finger fractured the middle fourth bone,” Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced in Japanese during a press conference. “Also, the fracture of the fifth middle fourth bone, index finger, and pinky, these two places were fractured. A diagnosis of a total recovery time of four months was made” (h/t Bloody Elbow).

Fortunately, the promotion was able to find a replacement in Japanese kickboxing standout Rukiya Anpo.

Anpo is a very different opponent for Pacquiao, having only one mixed martial arts bout to his credit—a first-round submission loss to Yuta Kub at RIZIN 45 on New Year’s Eve. Still, the ‘Demolition Man’ brings with him an impressive record in the world of kickboxing, going 27-8-1 with 14 wins by way of KO. He is also a former K-1 super lightweight champion and was a runner-up in the 2021 K-1 Welterweight Grand Prix tournament.

Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest boxers of all time

Of course, Manny Pacquiao needs no introduction. Considered by many to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to win twelve major world titles in eight different weight divisions. He is also the first boxer in history to win the lineal championship in five different weight divisions.

During his career, which has spanned four different decades, ‘PacMan’ has stepped inside the ring with some of the biggest names in the game, including Juan Manuel Márquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosely, Adrien Broner, Yordenis Ugás, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao officially retired in 2021, going 62-8 in his career with 39 of his wins coming by way of KO.

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao set to fight Rizin champion Chihiro Suzuki in exhibition match in July

Former eight-division boxing world champion, Manny Pacquiao will return to the boxing ring when he faces RIZIN featherweight champion…

Former eight-division boxing world champion, Manny Pacquiao will return to the boxing ring when he faces RIZIN featherweight champion Chihiro Suzuki.

During the RIZIN 47 broadcast last night, it was announced that the 45-year-old Pacquiao will fight on Super RIZIN 3 on July 28. He will face 25-year-old Suzuki who currently holds the 145lb RIZIN title and holds wins over the likes of Patricio Pitbull.

Manny Pacquiao also exploring WBC title fight with Marco Barrios

Manny Pacquaio had retired from competing following his decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in August of 2021.

“It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over,” Manny Pacquiao said in his retirement announcement video in September 2021. “Goodbye, boxing…Thank you for changing my life when my family was desperate. You gave us hope. You gave me the chance to fight our way out of poverty. Because of you, I was able to inspire people all over the world. Because of you, I have been given the courage to change more lives.’’

Ever since his retirement, there has been talks of ‘Pac-man’ making a ring return, being linked to fights with the likes of Conor Benn. It is clear that Pacquiao deeply missed boxing and what he got from the sport.

He has also earned enough money to never have to work again in his life and also held a job as a senator in his native Philippines. Fighting for many is a life style and stepping away from it becomes a very difficult process which leaves some searching for an identity outside of fighting.

While we see many fighters return way past his best, even at his age Pacquiao should still defeat Suzuki. He fought against the very best into his early 40s, becoming the oldest every welterweight champion after defeating Keith Thurman back in 2019, a title he held up until his clash with Ugas.

Will you watch Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming boxing match?

UFC sign Rizin FF champion, Japanese MMA star Kai Asakura to multi fight deal: ‘I’m giving up my belt’

The UFC have bolstered their ranks once more overnight, with Rizin FF bantamweight champion and Japanese mixed martial arts…

The UFC have bolstered their ranks once more overnight, with Rizin FF bantamweight champion and Japanese mixed martial arts star, Kai Asakura confirming his move to the promotion overnight.

Asakura, the current undisputed bantamweight titleholder, holds an impressive 21-4 professional mixed martial arts record, most recently landed the division crown in a vacant title fight win over former Bellator MMA champion, Juan Archuleta with a second round TKO win at the end of last year.

Kai Asakura confirms move to the UFC overnight

And long-linked with a potential move overseas to the UFC, Asakura confirmed over the course of last night in an announcement that he would be vacating his championship title at the bantamweight limit and is set to enter the Octagon.

“I am giving up my belt and going to the UFC,” Kai Asakura said at last night’s Rizin FF event. “I think there will be an announcement from the UFC soon, but it’s official that I’m going. This should be exciting new, but right now, I feel very lonely. I believe that thanks to Rizin. I, who was originally no one, was recognized as a fighter, a martial artist, a man.”

“And last year on New Year’s Eve, it was Mr. Sakakibara who accepted my selfish request to go to the UFC without a single [title] defense,” Kai Asakura explained. “I would like to thank Mr, Sakakibara from the bottom of my heart for his support. Thank you very much.”

Asakura, 30, has landed notable professional victories over the likes of Hiromosa Ougikubo, as well as former UFC title challenger, Kyoji Horiguchi, and Angolan bantamweight star, Manel Kape during his run with the Japan-based, Rizin FF organization.

Who would you like to see Kai Asakura fight in his first outing in the UFC?

RIZIN president slams ONE Championship’s ‘fund-based’ survival scheme: ‘It’s like being on life support’

It’s safe to say that there is no love lost between RIZIN President Nobuyuki Sakakibara and ONE Championship CEO…

It’s safe to say that there is no love lost between RIZIN President Nobuyuki Sakakibara and ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

During a recent episode of RIZIN CONFESSIONS on YouTube, Sakakibara, who has ties to both PRIDE FC and K-1, recently spoke about the promotion’s move into South Korea. During his comments, Sakakibara insisted that Asian-based combat sports organizations should “bring the heat to Asia” before attempting to branch out into other markets.

It was a clear dig at one of RIZIN’s biggest rivals in Asia, ONE Championship, but Sakakibara didn’t stop there. He went for the jugular, calling out ONE’s sketchy “fund-based scheme” for survival, likening it to being on life support.

“There are many casinos getting built in Incheon and they just finished building an arena that holds 15,000,” Sakakibara said. “Bring the heat to Asia first. ONE struggled in Qatar. As far as we know, they’ve been burning a lot of cash and have running for the past 10 years. They’ve burnt hundreds of millions of dollars. We have a different approach. We’re not operating off a fund-based scheme. It’s like being on life support and once the pipe is detached, you can’t live on your own.

“From this point on, RIZIN will continue to promote events that will provide the emotional rollercoasters. Delivering events like that will eventually result in a sustainable business.”

At one point during the conversation, the interviewer asks Sakakibara about ONE Championship’s mission statement to promote the “values of integrity, humility, honor, respect, courage, discipline, and compassion,” suggesting that it sounds like something out of a “kid’s comic book.”

Sakakibara chuckles before saying: “Nobody got the message they wanted to say.”

Jump to the 13-minute mark of the below embed to see Sakakibara’s comments about ONE Championship.

RIZIN president President Nobuyuki and ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong have a long history of trading verbal jabs

It’s certainly not the first time that Sakakibara and Sityodtong have taken digs at one another in the media. During a press event last year, Sityodtong made his feelings on K-1 very clear.

“Honestly like… It’s a tiny organization, and the level is very low. I mean, the level of striking is very low.” Sityodtong said. “That’s all I’m going to say. That’s why Takeru [Segawa], the best striker in K-1 wants to leave and come to here. If you’re an expert striker, you understand what I’m talking about. The level is very low.”

Sityodtong’s comments about K-1 and kickboxing in general drew a response from Sakakibara during an interview with MMA Mania’s Drake Riggs.

“I honestly think them as promoters talking about a sport like that,” Sakakibara I don’t appreciate them talking like that. I think that’s an issue on their personal level because kickboxing is an amazing sport. It’s a fun sport. And, as a promoter, if you cannot promote that sport, you shouldn’t be doing it. I think there are a lot of great ways to promote a kickboxing fight. Kickboxing is interesting, it’s an entertaining sport.

“If you feel like it’s not happening, it’s a promoter’s fault that’s not doing their job. They’re not picking up the right points, they’re not promoting it right. So, I think, as a promoter, they shouldn’t be saying that to specific sports. If they’ve tried, and if they can’t do it, it’s up to them, and it’s their fault. We know how to promote interesting fights, and we make it interesting.”

ONE Championship made its promotional debut in Qatar on March 1. While the event was successful from a fan perspective, delivering some exciting action, including the crowning of MMA’s first simultaneous three-division world champion.

Whether or not the event was a financial success is uncertain.

ONE is scheduled to return to the United States for a loaded lineup in The Mile High City — Denver, Colorado, on Friday, September 6. The promotion has already announced four massive matchups, including three champion vs. champion matches.

Reigning atomweight MMA queen Stamp Fairtex will challenge the defending ONE strawweight MMA world champion Xiong Jing Nan. Two-sport king Jonathan Haggerty puts his bantamweight Muay Thai title on the line against Thai superstar Superlek, and BJJ icon Mikey Musumeci moves up three weight classes to challenge Kade Ruotolo for the ONE lightweight submission grappling world championship.

British fan favorite Liam Harrison will also return to take on 201-win veteran Seksan Or Kwanmuang.

Video – Muay Thai legend Buakaw smashes Minoru Kimura with wicked second-round KO at RIZIN Lanmark 9

Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek added another highlight-reel knockout to his resume. On Saturday, March 23, Buakaw stepped inside…

Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek added another highlight-reel knockout to his resume.

On Saturday, March 23, Buakaw stepped inside the World Memorial Hall in Kobe, Japan for a clash with former K-1 Fighter of the Year Minoru Kimura as part of a loaded RIZIN Landmark 9 event.

Competing under kickboxing rules, the two fighters met in the middle of the cage and immediately began trading blows. Kimura put his power on display early, unleashing an onslaught of strikes against the Thai icon, but it was just a matter of time before Buakaw found his range and began to fire back. Just past the one-minute mark of the second round, Buakaw blasted his opponent with a perfectly-timed straight right that sent Kimura crashing to the canvas.

It was Buakaw’s 243rd career victory and 74th knockout. ‘The White Lotus’ has not lost a fight since March 2018.

“Who said this would be easy? Look at the first round. I admit that I almost didn’t make it past the first round,” he said in a post-fight interview. “If it were another fighter, they would already get knocked out. Those punches were very heavy. I will tell you that they were the heaviest punches I had been hit with in my career.”

Buakaw Banchamek adds to his legendary legacy

He is considered to be one of, if not the greatest practitioner in the history of the art of eight limbs, earning a laundry list of accolades. Buakaw Banchamek is a two-time K-1 World Max Champion, a former WBC Muaythai Diamond World Champion, a four-time WMC champion, and a Kunlun Fight Muaythai Middleweight World Championship.

In addition to his incredible history in both Muay Thai and kickboxing, he is undefeated under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship banner, earning wins over Erkan Varol and fellow Thai legend Saenchai.