Athlete

Pacquiao vs. Anpo: A round-by-round analysis

Photo courtesy of: @anporukiya & @mannypacquiao / IG

Right now, the worst-kept secret in the boxing world is Manny Pacquiao’s imminent comeback.

Though the only eight-division world champ called it quits three years ago, signs have pointed to Pacman starting a fresh chapter in his pro career. From exhibition fights with various fighters to targeting WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, the Pinoy icon is making significant noise in the boxing scene like it was 2010.

READ: Manny Pacquiao is done, when he says he’s done

Watch our cover story interview with Pacquiao here:

On Sunday evening (Manila time), Pacquiao ramped up his comeback tour by stepping into the ring with Japanese mixed martial artist Rukiya Anpo. In front of a pumped crowd inside the Saitama Super Arena, the 45-year-old Pacquiao had himself a litmus test by facing a much taller, much younger opponent.

So, how did Pacquiao fare? In a word: Not good. Not good at all.

ROUND 1: Early Advantage to Anpo

To the credit of Anpo, who has never fought a professional boxing match in his life, he made full use of his five-inch reach advantage as the opening round progressed. Pacquiao tried—and failed—to get into Anpo’s inside, but the 6-foot Japanese fighter was never in serious trouble. Predictably, Pacquiao went for the body to try to chop his taller opponent down, but he missed more than he landed.

In contrast, Anpo connected on jabs and a devastating liver shot late in the round. At one point, he was caught on camera shaking his head at the future Hall of Famer who misfired on a combination. As the bell sounded to signal the end of the round, the 28-year-old Anpo sauntered back to his corner, and you could tell exactly what he was thinking: I can hang with this guy.

ROUND 2: The Youngster Throws His Weight Around

Did we mention that the only way to win this judge-less bout was via knockout? Bearing this in mind, Pacquiao upped the volume of punches thrown. The problem for him was, Anpo knows a thing or two about defense as well. Rather than rushing to land a killshot, Anpo continued to move, parry, and punch intelligently.

As a result of Anpo’s measured approach, he was able to control the center of the ring, even having Pacquiao against the ropes on a couple of occasions. Anpo landed some more powerful body shots, while Pacquiao’s successful jabs were few and far in between. Play-by-play commentator Michael Schiavello hit the nail right on the head when he called Pacman “the more flat-footed of the two.”

ROUND 3: A Clear Victor

Gotta go for broke in the last round, right? Both fighters emptied their thanks in Round 3, but the narrative remained the same: Anpo outboxing a past-his-prime Pacquiao. In the opening minute, Pacquiao showed glimpses of the dizzying hand speed that made him world-famous. The punches he threw, however, hardly fazed Anpo, who responded in kind by rocking Pacquiao’s jaw with a couple of strong lefts.

As the fight drew to a close, Anpo brought out other tools in his arsenal, including a mean right hand and an uppercut. Eating up all these blows, all Pacquiao could do was smile. He knew he was beat, and he was probably thanking his lucky stars that he was still on his feet.

What Does All This Mean for Manny?

In the big picture, this exhibition in Saitama has little bearing on the 30-year legacy of Manny Pacquiao. But, as far as his current plans for a comeback are concerned, he and his team have plenty of footage to review.

Why? Because his hand and foot speed aren’t the same. Because his technical breakdown of taller opponents à la Antonio Margarito was non-existent in this fight (though, granted, his 2010 bout with Margarito was a 12-rounder). Because he got little offense against an opponent that, for all intents and purposes, is from a different realm of combat sports.

If Pacquiao is serious about restarting his pro boxing career, he needs to regain as much as he can of his old form and defy the limitations that Father Time is pressing on him. 

Rukiya Anpo will end up a footnote in the narrative of his career, but right now, it’s no secret that this young man just outboxed him.