'Pacquiao agrees MMA deal but won't fight'

Manny Pacquiao agrees fighter partnership with RIZIN MMA event.

Tokyo: A Japanese mixed-martial arts promoter said he and Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao have agreed to an exchange of fighters.

Nobuyuki Sakakibara, chairman of Japan's Rizin Fighting Federation, said at a media conference on Tuesday that "we agreed with Pacquiao that we will trade fighters aggressively, beyond the big barriers between two countries and events."

"We agreed with (Manny) Pacquiao that we will trade fighters aggressively beyond the big barriers between two countries and events. This time we agreed that a Filipino fighter who recommended by Pacquiao will flight under RIZIN for the first time,'' Sakakibara said.

"Regarding our contract, I should make clear about this point that (Manny) Pacquiao won't fight under this contract. This contract is all about Pacquiao recommending Filipino fighter Fritz Biagtan to fight against Tenshin Nasukawa and fully support him. Pacquiao will show up on the match day and establish a constructive relationship with RIZIN. In the future, of course, I would like him to fight under RIZIN, so I will talk to him about it from now on," he added.

Filipino MMA fighter Fritz Biagtan who is recommended by Pacquiao, will flight within Rizin for the first time.

The Filipino kickboxer will fight against Tenshin Nasukawa, who lost to boxer Floyd Mayweather on New Year's Eve in Tokyo.

Pacquiao will attend the event in April but won't fight.

The 40-year-old Pacquiao last fought in January when he successfully defended his WBA title against Adrien Broner in Las Vegas.