🚨🚨 Changes to match card🚨🚨#Yogibo
present
#SuperRIZIN3
RIZIN Standing Bout Special Rules 69.0kg
🟥#Manny PacquiaoManny Pacquiao
Boxing World Champion in Six Weight Classes
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🟦#Ampo Ruya
Amporukiya
4th K-1 Super Raiders Champion
※Chihiro Suzuki will be absent due to injury and doctor’s orders… pic.twitter.com/oE4gjS8RYm
— RIZIN FF Official (@rizin_PR)
June 28, 2024
The RIZIN Fighting Federation intends to have Manny Pacquiao appear in their upcoming blockbuster show no matter what.
The promotion issued a press release on Thursday night announcing that Pacquiao will not be facing Chihiro Suzuki at Super RIZIN 3 on July 28. “Pacman” was scheduled to face Suzuki in a three-round “standing rules” bout consisting of boxing and spinning attacks. Suzuki was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an injury he sustained in an exhibition match against Takanori Gomi in June. Kickboxer Rukiya Ampo will take his place. Ampo already has a similar bout against Yuta Kubo at the end of 2023.
Legendary Filipino boxer Pacquiao has accomplished more than any other boxer before him, dominating in each weight class, winning belts at flyweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight. Regarded as one of the greatest boxers in boxing history, the Manila native officially hung up his boxing gloves after losing by decision to Yordenis Ugas for the WBA 146-pound super champion title in 2021. Since then, the 45-year-old has competed in several exhibition boxing matches, defeating Jesus Salud and DK Yu, both by points in 2022.
Ampo has never fought as a straight boxer, and practically his entire fighting career has been built in the kickboxing ring. The Japanese karateka, known as “Demolition Man,” has had an unconventional run in 2023, fighting two bouts under kickboxing rules and three under modified MMA rules, all for RIZIN. In less than eight months, Ampo has drawn with Buakaw Banchamek, won by decision over Patrick Usami Sho, and submitted Kubo. He has also recently participated in exhibition fights, defeating Cyril Abadie and Tsuyoshi Kamiyama at a Breakdown event held in Japan under modified rules.
