Pacman insists he’s retired, just fighting for charity

Manny Pacquiao stood face to face with South Korean martial arts expert DK Yoo Wednesday evening to signal his return to boxing barely 10 months after he retired and thought he´d heard the “final bell.”

While the charity event penciled on Dec. 11 in the capital city of Seoul is being advertised as a six-round, no-weight-limit exhibition bout, many believe it could lead to a major Pacquiao comeback.

“Why not?” said Pacquiao´s longtime trainer and bosom buddy Buboy Fernandez. “Kaya pa. Madami pang kaya talunin sa 147 (pounds).”

Besides, the country needs somebody to save its image in the boxing world. At the moment, there is no reigning Filipino world champion in the sport where Pacquiao used to be the biggest name.

But the Filipino icon, who will turn 44 in December, did not want to get ahead of the fight against Yoo, a YouTube sensation back home and described as a “master” of multiple martial arts disciplines.

“Ang alam ko nag-retire na ako so yun ang nasa mind ko unless magbago ang puso at isip ko na lumaban ulit,” Pacquiao said inside the Bonifacio Hall of the posh Shangri-la Hotel in BGC.

He said he doesn´t know much about the South Korean who looked like a K-Drama actor in his lightcolored suit and cool demeanor.

“Na-meet ko lang siya (Yoo) nung pumunta sila sa GenSan nag-propose sila nitong event. Ang alam ko taekwondo at karatista,” said Pacquiao.

Yoo also preaches meditation, which is something that won´t be of help once he gets inside the ring with the hard-hitting former eight-division champion.

He spoke in Korean and had a female interpreter who translated his statements into Filipino.

“Alam ko na hindi ako mananalo pero I will try my best. Sobra mabilis si Manny pero I will try my best na magugulat din siya,” said Yoo, who boasts over 600,000 subscribers on YouTube.

It´s a charity event with Yoo donating a portion of his income to those suffering in Ukraine, and Pacquiao to his poor countrymen.

“Madaming nangangailangan. Bakante pa yung mga lupa sa village ko. Madami pang bahay ang dapat itayo para sa mga mahihirap,” said Pacquiao.