Manny Pacquiao made his return to the ring for an exhibition last night, but was unable to draw anything close to a sold-out crowd for his bout.
The legendary eight-division world champion faced popular YouTube star and supposed 'Martial Arts expert' DK Yoo at the Korea International Exhibition Centre in Goyang, South Korea. But during the broadcast, countless empty seats could be seen as the main event fighters were making their ring walks.
Ultimately, the exhibition was quite an entertaining affair, with Pacquiao dropping DK Yoo on multiple occasions as he pushed for the finish late in the fight. The YouTube star was somehow able to survive an onslaught at the end of the fifth to make it to the final bell, with no winner declared following six rounds of action.
"It's nice to be back in the ring for this charity exhibition match," Pacquiao said after the bout. "I'm going to continue my training to get back in shape." Asked if he would be back in the ring next year for a professional or exhibition bout, Pacquiao responded, "you'll see."
As for a prospective meeting with Floyd Mayweather, the former champion was not going to be drawn on his old rival, saying: "I don't know [if he'll accept an exhibition with me], I don't have an idea because that guy always changes his decision." Mayweather competed in three such exhibitions this year, and doesn't want to return to professional fighting.
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Pacquiao came in at his career heaviest of 161lb, but he was still almost a stone lighter than DK Yoo, who towered over him when they first faced off. But the famous speed and power of the former champion was still there, and displayed in abundance as he dominated proceedings from the first bell.
Any time DK Yoo managed to get through with more than a jab, he was instantly punished with a bigger return from the boxer, who never looked in any trouble. Pacquiao went out in search of the finish in the fifth, although he landed a punch to the back of the head that allowed his rival time to recover. And DK Yoo spent his time talking to officials at ringside, before the bout was eventually continued and Pacquiao sent him down again, although it was ruled a slip.
Somehow, DK Yoo made it to the sixth and final round, but he flopped to the ground yet again attempting to clinch up in the first few seconds. And the cleanest knockdown you'll see landed halfway through the round, with a timeout called before DK Yoo was dropped again by Pacquiao, but he survived to see the final bell.
The legendary fighter has teased a return next year to legitimate professional boxing. He this week called for world title bouts with either Terence Crawford or Errol Spence Jr if they're unable to make a fight happen.
