Philippines, 18 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


All eyes on Manny


PhilBoxing.com




Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring in a six-round exhibition in Goyang, a Seoul satellite city, this morning (Manila time) as the spotlight is on the only eight-division world boxing champion with the sport’s cognoscenti sizing up how he fights South Korean martial arts guru DK Yoo to determine if there’s still a future in marquee events for the Filipino icon.

It won’t exactly be a true test for Pacquiao. First, Yoo isn’t in Pacquiao’s class. They’re both 43 so age won’t be a factor. But Yoo isn’t a pro boxer. He’s the founder of something called the Wartime Combat System and a self-proclaimed master of 15 fighting disciplines. His claim to shame was tangling with former UFC brawler Bradley Scott in a boxing exhibition joke last year. Second, the fight is for six rounds with two minutes set for each frame. That time spectrum will hardly put Pacquiao’s stamina to a test. Third, no weight limit has been stipulated so it could come down to Yoo plodding and Pacquiao skating. In yesterday’s weigh-in, Pacquiao scaled 73.1 kg (161.2 pounds) and Yoo, 78.9 kg (173.9 poinds). If Yoo’s footspeed is compromised, he'll be a sitting duck for Pacquiao’s rapid-fire combinations.

Pacquiao’s motivation in engaging Yoo is money----not for himself but for others. Whatever he earns from the event, Pacquiao will use to provide homes for his homeless countrymen and to build homes for war victims in Ukraine. Coming from humble beginnings, Pacquiao knows what it’s like to grow up without a home. Housing has been a priority in his personal fight against poverty. He has put up five Pacman Villages so far----in the Saranggani towns of Alabel, Malungon, Glan and Maasin and in General Santos City. The Alabel project’s beneficiaries are 200 families displaced by Typhoon Yolanda.

After Pacquiao accepted to do the gig in Korea, he got back to training in the gym and worked like a world title was at stake. Clearly, he missed the routine with the heavy bag, double-end ball and speedball. He missed the shadow boxing, pounding the mitts, sparring, drills, early morning runs and sweat all over his body. Pacquiao was reunited with his training team of Buboy Fernandez, Silen Fernandez and Nonoy Neri and it was like old times. Boxing has always been a passion for Pacquiao and it’s still in his veins. When the bell rings, it’s like being in a happy place. Boxing isn’t just a profession for Pacquiao, it’s a life-long love affair.

There is talk that if Pacquiao relives his glory days in the ring with Yoo, it could lead to another exhibition in February, this time at home where he hasn’t seen action since defeating Oscar Larios at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in 2006. If a sequel happens, it could be at the MOA Arena and Conor McGregor may be in the opposite corner. And if Pacquiao continues to set the world on fire, he might just be back in Las Vegas for a megabuck duel with a star like Ryan Garcia.

If there’s a road leading to a Pacquiao revival, it starts with the Yoo exhibition this morning. It’s the reason why there’s global interest in what transpires. Will Pacquiao dazzle like before? Will the exhibition be a dud? Will it fail as a test for Pacquiao’s level of competitiveness? We’ll find out soon enough.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “KING” RYAN GARCIA SAN DIEGO MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM ORLANDO FLORIDA
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Super Lightweight Israel Mercado Looks to Keep Momentum Going this Saturday in Long Beach
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Middleweight Slugger Raul Salomon Returns to Action April 19 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • BOXING INSIDER BRINGS DOMINGUEZ BACK TO SONY HALL MAY 9
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • IM Michael Concio rules Bangkok Blitz chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • LIM, VICENTE TOP BANTON CHESS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • SMITH VS. GERMAIN + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • There Are No Miracles— Just Nora Aunor
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Heavyweight Contender Lenier Pero Set to Shine on April 18 at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • New Champion, New Era: Lightweight King Keyshawn Davis Defends Throne Against Edwin De Los Santos in Homecoming June 7 at Norfolk’s Scope Arena LIVE on ESPN
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Rising Canadian super lightweight prospect Eric Basran draws undefeated Isaiah Johnson for Friday's opening round of the inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • FORMER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION KELLY “THE GHOST” PAVLIK TO ATTEND 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Beltran faces Crenz in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Into to fight Jones in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • USA Boxing International Concludes Day Two Competition
    , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Little Pancho: A Filipino Fighter in the Ring, an American Soldier to the End
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Beltran ready to fight in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Arca stuns English GM, maintains share of top spot in Bangkok Chess Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Melvin’s target is Collazo
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Piala fights Choki in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • There will be NO DRAWS at the World Boxing Council Grand Prix in Riyadh
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • WBC Boxing Grand Prix set April 17-20
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • ROY JONES JR BOXING PRESENTS “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE GILLESPIE” DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE, KY SATURDAY, APRIL 19
    , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Day One of the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
    , Thu, 17 Apr 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.