Pacquiao returned to the ring after over a year off to beat up DK Yoo in an uncompetitive but relatively entertaining exhibition boxing bout.
Manny Pacquiao was back in action on Saturday night in a boxing exhibition match against South Korean YouTuber and martial artist DK Yoo.
Pointless exhibition matches like this are starting to become pretty common amongst the top names in boxing, and Pacquiao stepped into the ring to fight for the first time since his loss to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021. Facing him would be boxing neophyte DK Yoo, whose popular YouTube channel is geared towards traditional martial arts education.
As you’d expect, Pacquiao dominated the entire fight while DK Yoo did little more than hang in and survive. Yoo’s punches and combos didn’t look bad, but little actually managed to hit Pacquiao, while “Pac-Man” landed on Yoo with ease. For the first two rounds, Manny took things slow but didn’t fool around too much like Floyd Mayweather in his recent series of exhibitions.
In the third round Pacquiao increased the pressure and started attacking the body a lot. Yoo kept a pawing jab to try and keep Manny on the outside, but Pacquiao was able to step in at will and land his own jabs and overhands.
In the 4th Pacquiao knocked Yoo down at the end of the round, but it was declared a slip. In the 5th round Pacquiao continued to hunt down Yoo, launching forward to crack him in the jaw repeatedly. Yoo was rescued by the referee over a punch to the back of the head, and took a minute to gather his wits back about him.
In the 6th and final round it was all business as Manny stalked DK around the ring, eventually lunging forward and knocking Yoo down with a stiff jab to the face. The referee enabled a time out for some reason before resetting the action, and again Pacquiao went on the offensive chasing the finish. He backed Yoo into the ropes and worked his body until Yoo fell over … and the fall was declared another slip! Before he could get back to his feet, the timer on the round and fight ended, and DK Yoo survived the fight.
Check out what Twitter had to say about the contest:
WATCH: Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao warming up as he prepares to face martial artist DK Yoo in an exhibition fight at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Goyang, South Korea on Sunday, Dec. 11. #PTVSports #PacquiaoYoo
video courtesy of MP Promotions team pic.twitter.com/5p3sSkokXQ
— PTV Sports PH (@ptvphsports) December 11, 2022
Pacquiao wraps up his hands just like the old days. He is set to take on DK Yoo in a 6-rd exhibition. Video courtesy of Pacquiao’s camp pic.twitter.com/0m78DRYg2y
— Dennis Gasgonia (@dggasgo) December 11, 2022
Manny Pacquiao is about to have an exhibition in South Korea with a guy named DK Yoo, who I understand is a YouTuber. It’s not a “real” fight, but there’s always the chance this guy increases his YouTube views by claiming he could hang in there with an aging legend
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) December 11, 2022
The legend is back, the people’s champ #PacquiaoYoo pic.twitter.com/9w4TVCAmX1
— CHAMPA BAY (@bucsnationx21) December 11, 2022
Guess who’s back @MannyPacquiao #PacquiaoYoo right now! @trillerfight @FiteTV PPV pic.twitter.com/QgjN7Ny3Te
— Ray Flores (@SBRFlores) December 11, 2022
The Manny Pacquiao vs. DK Yoo ring announcer might be drunker than me right now pic.twitter.com/bAsuiuoF8w
— The Boxing Historian in the Hotdog Suit (@BoxrecGrey) December 11, 2022
Middleweight Pacquiao is getting hit by flush jabs by Light Heavyweight self-defense guy,
— Lord of The Fly’s (@naotaBox) December 11, 2022
Busier Round 2 for both fighters. Yoo spammed the jab while Pacquiao beginning to press the action. | @dino_mars #PacquiaoDkYoo
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) December 11, 2022
This Pacquiao exhibition look wild empty. How much money is Pac Man really raising for charity off this fight??
— KING (@theyknowking) December 11, 2022
Pacquiao forcing Yoo to be on the defensive in Round 3. Dominant round for Manny, whose combinations to the body prompted Yoo to either clinch or retreat. #PacquiaoYoo
— Dino Maragay (@dino_mars) December 11, 2022
In case anybody is wondering, yes, Pacquiao’s still got it #PacquiaoYoo pic.twitter.com/1sioOtzPef
— BoxingHelenaa (@BoxingHelenaa) December 11, 2022
So sad to see the great Pacquiao have to even do this, and hard to listen to this. #PacquiaoYoo
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) December 11, 2022
MANNY DROPS DK YOO!!! #PacquiaoYoo
— Jasonsalinas (@jasonsalinas31) December 11, 2022
Yoo goes down but it was ruled a slip. The Korean is clearly gassed in Round 4. #PacquiaoYoo
— Dino Maragay (@dino_mars) December 11, 2022
Manny was close to the TKO but DK Yoo was saved by the bell!
2 more rounds, will we get a finish?#PacquiaoYoo
— PPV.COM (@ppv_com) December 11, 2022
Almost a KO for Pacquiao, but Yoo said he wanna keep going for some odd reason.#PacquiaoYoo pic.twitter.com/uhiFYU8HIi
— Pottydactyl (@Pottydactyl) December 11, 2022
Manny Pacquiao IS BACKKK!!! #Boxing #PacquiaoYoo pic.twitter.com/EmxGmPcXzk
— Danny Ramirez (@dantheboxingman) December 11, 2022
Last round of PACQUIAO vs YOO pic.twitter.com/3HdSzdoO1S
— BOBBY G. (@Battlebornrob) December 11, 2022
As everyone anticipated, @MannyPacquiao dominated @dkyoowcs in a 6-round exhibition in South Korea #PacquiaoYoo @pnagovph
— Ivan Saldajeno (@IvanSaldajeno) December 11, 2022
#MannyPacquiao gets the victory over #DKYoo #boxing #boxeo #PacquiaoYoo @SBRFlores pic.twitter.com/WTAd0VozLy
— Rick V (@BoxingVitals) December 11, 2022
Pacquiao is already set to return for another exhibition bout in January 2023 against former training partner Jaber Zayani in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. And while “Pac-Man” may trashtalk other boxing greats and champions, don’t expect to see him in any serious match-ups: according to the Filipino fighter, those days are over.