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While there was widespread talk in social media that Manny Pacquiao should forget about plans of a farewell fight for a world title after an uneventful performance in a three-round exhibition in Saitama, Japan, recently, MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said knowledgeable promoters weren’t swayed by the reaction from netizens.

“Sure, the Senator wasn’t at his best but I think the guys who know boxing understand what went down in Japan,” said Gibbons. “Art Haymon and PBC (Premier Boxing Champions) know. Luckily, Manny had a lot left to survive a bigger and stronger opponent and in the third round, showed he’s still got it. We’re working on his title shot and it’ll be against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.”

Gibbons said he’s confident Pacquiao’s s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s will carry him through what will be his swan song in a legacy fight. “Manny’s 45 and Barrios is 29 but Barrios isn’t Terrence Crawford and Manny’s not fighting Crawford,” he said.

In Saitama, Pacquiao took on Japanese mixed martial arts champion Rukiya Anpo before over 40,000 fans. Anpo was a late replacement for another Japanese kickboxer Chihiro Suzuki who was supposedly injured in training. Suzuki is four inches shorter than the six-foot Anpo and weighs less than 145 pounds. Anpo scaled 151.5 in a “private” weigh-in that wasn’t monitored by Pacquiao’s team while Pacquiao tipped in at 150. The weight limit for the fight was 150. But Anpo looked like he weighed about 10 more pounds than Pacquiao. The only way Anpo could win was by stopping Pacquiao since the fight had no judges. Anpo bullied Pacquiao in the first round, was held on even terms in the second and took some big shots in the third. The outcome was announced as a draw.

There was confusion at the weigh-in. A respected Pacquiao confidant who was in Saitama suggested to withdraw. Anpo took his recovery food earlier than Pacquiao and had the advantage of regaining weight sooner because of his “private” weigh-in. The promoters conducted a “private” and “public” weigh-in. Pacquiao wouldn’t deny the fans who paid good money to witness the fight. “Sa laban kay (Floyd) Mayweather, may injury si Senator pero ‘di umayaw, ito pa kaya?” noted an insider.

Gibbons said the switch from a small to a big opponent was a danger sign. The use of a foamy canvas was expected since the event was mainly for MMA but it hampered Pacquiao’s mobility. A cushioned canvas protects MMA fighters from hard takedowns. Whether or not there was chicanery involved, the show went on and Pacquiao didn’t back down. As always, he showed the heart of a champion.