Manny Pacquiao, the legendary Filipino boxer and eight-time world division champion, has kicked off his preparations for an upcoming exhibition bout against Thailand’s Muay Thai legend, Buakaw Banchamek in April.
While gearing up for this match, though, Pacquiao is keeping his eyes on an Olympic stint in Paris.
Sean Gibbons, Pacquiao’s top executive at his MP Promotions, expressed the team’s eagerness for a decision on Pacquiao’s Olympic participation.
“If the right opportunity comes up for Manny, we will look at it. But we are also waiting on the decision for the Olympics,” Gibbons told World Boxing News.
“We expect the decision to be made on Manny fighting at the Olympics in March. We will see if we can get that before making any decision on other fights,” he added.
The Philippine Olympic Committee has formally requested the International Olympic Committee to grant Pacquiao a direct route to the boxing competition in Paris, citing his marketability and outstanding accomplishments in the boxing world.
“Pacquiao’s presence will be good for the Olympics,” said POC president Abraham Tolentino.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will have Buakaw as a good tune-up for his ring return.
Pacquiao’s training regimen, based in his General Santos City gym, features a mix of morning runs, calisthenics, and pad work with his team of trainers.
Buakaw, a world-renowned figure in Muay Thai, is set to be one of Pacquiao’s opponents in a series of exhibition matches leading up to the Olympic month in August.
The Pacquiao-Buakaw match is six three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks’ format.
Pacquiao earlier defeated DK Yoo of South Korea in his first exhibition match since retiring from professional boxing.