Manila – Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao showed no ring rust as he pulverized South Korean martial artist DK Yoo in a six-round exhibition match on Sunday at the Korean International Exhibition Center in Seoul, South Korea.
The eight-division world boxing champion floored his opponent several times, some of which were curiously ruled as a split by the Korean referee, to emerge as the winner in the scorecards of three Korean judges.
Both Pacquiao and Yoo were slow to engage in the opening round and were engaged by the referee to trade blows before the Filipino fighter staggered the Korean martial artist with some combinations.
Pacquiao had his numerous combinations at the onset of the second round but the Filipino ring icon was stunned by a jab thrown at him by Yoo but the former responded with more hits to end the round.
Pacquiao increased his aggression in the third round as he unloaded combinations to the body that forced Yoo to either clinch or retreat. The Korean also had his punched but not enough to hurt the Filipino fighter.
Pacquiao continued to unload his punches in the fourth round and was able to knock down Yoo but was ruled a slip. The Filipino fighter then cornered the Korean, who went down on his corner but managed to beat the referee’s count.
Pacquiao then toyed with Yoo to start the fifth round before unloading several punches, including one that hit the Korean at the back of his head and also caused a strange temporary stoppage by the referee in the match.
The Filipino fighter went on with his attacks in the sixth frame to floor the Korean fighter twice but the referee ruled Yoo’s second flooring as a slip as the seconds of the match ended.
“It is so nice to be back in the ring but I am going to continue my training to get back in shape,” said Pacquiao, who announced his retirement from boxing last year for his presidential aspirations in the 2022 national elections.
This was Pacquiao’s first-ever boxing match since suffering a unanimous decision defeat to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in their WBA super welterweight match last August, 2021 in Las Vegas./PN
