Pacquiao faces tall odds vs Japanese

TOKYO – At six feet tall, Japan’s Rukiya Anpo will be Manny Pacquiao’s tallest opponent so far.

But Pacquiao, as usual, is unfazed heading into his first taste of ring action since 2022.

“I have no problem with that, as long as he makes it to the (contracted) weight,” the Filipino ring icon told reporters Friday at The Westin Tokyo here when asked about Anpo’s significant size and height advantage.

Pacquiao and Anpo will collide in a three-round boxing exhibition match today at the Saitama Super Arena as a co-feature of Rizin’s 10-bout card. Both fighters agreed to meet at a catchweight of 152 pounds or 69 kilos, which they both cleared during the well-attended official weigh-in ceremony Saturday at the same venue.

Pacquiao tipped the scales at 149 lbs (68 kilos) while Anpo checked in at 151 lbs (68.75 kilos), sending the packed crowd, which included popular former super lightweight champion Ryan Garcia, on a frenzy.

As they faced off against each other, the size difference was glaring. But the former eight-division world champion, who stands at 5-foot-5, is no stranger to fighting taller opponents.