Manny Pacquiao says exhibition fight is 'my comeback to the ring'

Filipino boxing legend faces South Korean YouTuber in exhibition bout in December

Manny Pacquiao poses for media at Wild Card Boxing Club on August 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California ahead of his fight against Errol Spence Jr. Pacquaio will instead fight Yordenis Ugas on August 21 after Spence withdrew with an eye injury.

Manny Pacquiao poses for media at Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, California.

Manny Pacquiao has not fought since beating Keith Thurman by split decision in 2019.

Manny Pacquiao talks with his coach Freddie Roach.

Manny Pacquiao talks with the media prior to his training session at Wild Card Boxing Club.

Manny Pacquiao poses for a portrait.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao smiles during a news conference with Errol Spence Jr on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at the Fox Studios lot in Los Angeles ahead of their upcoming boxing match.

Errol Spence Jr speaks during a press conference with Manny Pacquiao. The WBC and IBF welterweight champion Spence has had to withdraw from their August 21 fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 21 through injury.

Manny Pacquiao says he plans to use an exhibition fight against a South Korean YouTuber in December as "my comeback to the ring" and says he wants to remind people he is still a force in boxing.

The Filipino, 43, called time on a decades-long career following his loss to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021 that saw him relinquish his WBA Super World Welterweight title.

Pacquiao then threw his energy into winning the Philippines presidency, but following that failed bid, boxing's only eight-weight world champion plans to return to what he does best.

He faces DK Yoo in an exhibition bout in Seoul on December 11 with money raised going to Ukraine and the homeless in his homeland.

After appearing in the form of a hologram in Los Angeles on Thursday to promote the exhibition, Pacquiao hinted that his return to boxing may not be limited to the Yoo bout.

"I'll try to prove that Manny Pacquiao is still there in boxing," he said, also refusing to rule out a rematch with old rival Floyd Mayweather, himself a proponent of exhibition bout post retirement from professional boxing.

"This is my comeback to the ring, this is my passion, so I have to work hard even though it's an exhibition match.

"I'll try to finish the fight early so we can go home early," he added, hinting that he intends to knock out the South Korean.

Pacquiao, a multiple world champion who retired with a 62-8-2 record, admitted: "I felt lonely when I retired from boxing."

Manny Pacquiao, right, during his defeat against Yordenis Ugas in their WBA welterweight title bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 21. AP

Cuba's Yordenis Uga celebrates his unanimous decision win over Manny Pacquiao. AP

Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas of Cuba during the bout. AFP

Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas during the bout in Las Vegas. AFP

Cuba's Yordenis Uga celebrates his unanimous decision win over Manny Pacquiao. AP

Manny Pacquiao in action against Yordenis Ugas. AFP

Yordenis Ugas lands a punch on Manny Pacquiao. AFP

Trainer Freddie Roach speaks to Manny Pacquiao between rounds. AP

Yordenis Ugas and Manny Pacquiao at the end of the fight. AP

Yordenis Ugas lands a punch on Manny Pacquiao in the sixth round. AFP

Yordenis Ugas celebrates in the ring. AFP

Manny Pacquiao in action against Yordenis Ugas. AP

Trainer Freddie Roach speaks to Manny Pacquiao. AP

Manny Pacquiao failed to connect on Yordenis Ugas. AFP

Manny Pacquiaoand Yordenis Ugas during the fight. Reuters

Manny Pacquiao gestures to fans after his defeat. AFP

Yordenis Ugas throws a right at Manny Pacquiao in the fifth round. AFP

Yordenis Ugas celebrates after defeating Manny Pacquiao. AFP

Manny Pacquiao lands a punch on Yordenis Ugas. Reuters

Manny Pacquiao takes a punch from Yordenis Ugas. AFP