By CARLO ANOLIN
Manny Pacquiao is definitely back.
As if he did not come from retirement, Pacquiao displayed vintage performance and dominated South Korean martial artist DK Yoo in their six-round exhibition match Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Korea International Exhibition Center in South Korea.
The eight-division world boxing champion showed who’s boss and went all-out from the get-go, unloading multiple combinations and solid body shots to punish Yoo.
After gaining much momentum from the first two rounds, Pacquiao, who will turn 44 next week, stepped on the gas and mixed up his combinations with powerful right hooks to the body.
It was only in the fourth round when Yoo had his short stab at glory, coming through with a right hook but did not inflict much damage on Pacquiao.
Unfazed, the Filipino boxing legend unleashed a classic flurry of punches in the last 10 seconds which left Yoo with a bloodied nose.
With Pacquiao on the cusp of winning, at least as points are concerned, the fifth frame saw some complications and downtime when Yoo pointed out that he was punched at the back of the head.
Pacquiao, who actually hit Yoo on the temple, was quick to apologize though but it did not stop him from punishing the South Korean with hefty combinations heading into the sixth and final round.
Pacquiao was razor-thin close to a knockout victory as he managed to score a clean knockdown midway through the sixth canto after a vicious left hook.
He followed it up with yet another multiple hits en route to what was supposedly a knockdown, but South Korean referee Jang-Sun Kim called it a “slip.”
Regardless, Pacquiao displayed his A-game for the charity event and earned the judges’ nod to take a convincing UD win.
“It’s nice to be back in the ring especially in this charity exhibition match and I’m going to continue my training to be back in shape,” said Pacquiao, who owns a professional record of 62 wins built on 39 knockouts, eight losses, and two draws.
The Filipino boxing great added that he wasn’t really surprised by Yoo’s movements. “I can move also like that,” he said in jest.
The proceeds of the boxing match will go to the war-plagued Ukraine and as well as the Philippines, to provide free housing.
