Manny Pacquiao leaves door open to pro boxing return after farcical exhibition with YouTuber DK Yoo in half-empty arena
MANNY PACQUIAO left the door open to a return to professional boxing after his exhibition bout with YouTuber DK Yoo.
The Filipino great faced martial artists Yoo in Seoul over six spectacle rounds but did so inside a half-empty stadium.
Pacquiao dominated the contest and was announced as the winner despite the fight not being officially sanctioned.
And afterwards, he refused to rule out a genuine boxing return.
Pacquiao, 43, said: “It’s nice to be back in the ring for this charity exhibition match. I’m going to continue my training to get back in shape.”
PacMan retired last August after losing to Cuban Yordenis Ugas, 36.
But after failing in a presidential election in the Philippines, rumours of a boxing comeback circled.
Pacquiao – who remains linked with a rematch against Floyd Mayweather – later signed to box Yoo in South Korea.
But the bout proved farcical as the eight-division champion punched his novice opponent around the ring.
Yoo was dropped at the end of round four and the ref appeared to wave it off before being convinced to let it carry on.
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Pacquiao twice more had Yoo on the floor but only one was counted as a knockdown, allowing the fight to go the distance.
Inevitably Mayweather, 45, who has boxed in five exhibition since retiring himself, was brought up to Pacquiao.
He told FITE TV: “I don’t know, I don’t have an idea because that guy always changes his decision.”