A date has been set for the exhibition fight between Manny Pacquiao and Buakaw Banchamek.
According to Banchamek Gym’s Facebook page, the date has been set for April 20. The event is organized by Thailand’s Fresh Air Festival Co Ltd and cinema operator SF Corporation.
The fight will be contested under traditional boxing rules.
Buakaw, 41, a Muay Thai legend, will be at a disadvantage against an eight-division world champion like Pacquiao, who is 45 years old.
There will be six three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks.
In July, Fresh Air Festival CEO Vinij Lertratanachai revealed that an agreement had been reached for this fight.
“We are honored to have Manny ‘PacMan’ Pacquiao and Buakaw Banchamek for this historic event,” he said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you don’t want to miss.”
Pacquiao retired from the sport in 2021, when he suffered a twelve-round unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas. The Filipino star had the option of exercising an immediate rematch clause, but he decided it was better to walk away from the sport.
He participated in his first exhibition match in 2022 at KINTEX Stadium in Goyang, near Seoul, Korea.
Pacquiao basically played with South Korean YouTuber DK Yoo to raise money for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, and also to provide funds to homeless Filipinos.
