Manny Pacquiao vs Anthony Mundine Coming to Papua New Guinea in June 2023
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (February 28th, 2023)– Will Manny Pacquiao officially return to the ring or won’t he? As a matter of fact, does anybody actually care? Manny Pacquiao seems to be doing everything Pacman in exhibitions except fighting a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the big mega payday Kahuna. Whether they do rematch with themselves or not, it seems more and more evident, based on Floyd and Pacquiao still working the exhibition circuit, that a rematch between the two old combatants is a solid enough proposal at 154 or 160 pounds in the near future.
While constant hard work brings with it the possibility of a significant comeback, such as Badou Jack did recently to win his third world title at age 39 this past weekend in winning the World Boxing Council World Cruiserweight title this past weekend, Pacquiao has been making more significant comeback noises and even signed a return bout contract. Papua New Guinea, his next exhibition port of call, is closer to the Filipino Pay-Per-View audience, whether for charity or not.
Papua New Guinea is poised for the June 2023 exhibition between former world champion Manny Pacquiao and long washed up former champion Anthony Mundine, an Australian middleweight who has not won a bout in five years, since 2018. Two of the 48-11 Mundine’s last three pro bouts ended by first round knockout loss, a clear sign at age 47 Mundine is long done. Yet the 62-8-2 welterweight Pacquiao stills thinks he can sell an exhibition in the Orient. Maybe neither Pacquiao nor Mundine should be there. Some names just do not know when to let go when the lights have long faded. Paquiao’s six round exhibition with martial artist DK Koo in South Korea in December 2022 was a hint. Pacquiao could not put martial artist Koo away for six rounds. Floyd went eight rounds and could not put Chalmers away.
The ‘Demon from Philadelphia’, the late International Boxing Federation Light Middleweight champion Buster Drayton, then aged 59, returned to the ring for an exhibition in 2012 in Philadelphia against Philadelphia police officer Floyd Richards. Drayton and Pacquiao will be 44 years old when he fights 47-year-old Mundine, considerably younger.
Papua New Guinea Professional Boxing Control Board chairman Bernard Fong confirmed former eight division world champion Pacquiao and former National Rugby League (NRL) star and former world champion Mundine were expected to sign a contract is Brisbane, Australia, in February 2023, for the Papua New Guinea exhibition at Sir Guise Stadium in conjunction with Oceania Fight Promotions in collaboration with the PNG Sports Foundation and the promoters of both fighters. According to Fong, “All expenses will be paid by the promoter. Once (the contract) is signed, it will be sealed. The eyes of the world will be here (in Papua New Guinea).”
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