[OSENWORLD] Manny Pacquiao, the legendary eight-division world boxing champion, is joining Netflix’s Physical franchise. The Filipino icon will lead Team Philippines in Physical: Asia, the first nation-vs.-nation edition of the hit survival competition premiering this October.
With Pacquiao’s surprise involvement, the show marks its leap from a breakout hit to a full-scale global phenomenon. The new season assembles 48 athletes from eight countries — Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines — each competing under their national flag in a high-stakes showdown to determine which country holds Asia’s strongest competitors.
The roster of team leaders is stacked with star power. Korea is led by UFC pioneer Kim Dong-hyun, nicknamed “Stun Gun” for his explosive finishes. Japan’s squad is captained by MMA legend Yushin Okami, while former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker fronts Australia’s powerhouse lineup. Alongside Pacquiao, other anchors include Muay Thai world champion Superbon (Thailand), traditional wrestling powerhouse Erkhembayar Bayarsaikhan (Mongolia), four-time oil wrestling champion Recep Kara (Türkiye), and Indonesian bodybuilder Igates Executioner.
Team Korea enters the competition with a formidable lineup: Olympic skeleton gold medalist Yun Sung-bin, ssireum champion Kim Min-jae, Physical: 100 Season 2 – Underground winner Amotti, former wrestling national athlete and Physical: 100 Season 1 standout Jang Eun-sil, and Asia’s top CrossFit competitor Choi Seung-yeon.
Beyond Korea, the lineup spans disciplines from judo, wrestling, boxing, karate, jiu-jitsu, and sambo to rugby, basketball, volleyball, baseball, athletics, parkour, strongman, and acrobatics. Traditional sports also take center stage, uniting Korean ssireum, Mongolian wrestling, Turkish oil wrestling, and Thai Muay Thai under one colossal competition.
Producer Jang Ho-gi emphasized the series’ expanded vision: “The essence of the Physical franchise is fierce competition that transcends sport and age. With Physical: Asia, national pride enters the equation, raising the intensity and emotional stakes even higher.”
With Pacquiao’s name headlining a roster of champions, Physical: Asia represents the franchise’s boldest step yet — reflecting not only physical strength, but also national pride across Asia.
Physical: Asia premieres worldwide this October, exclusively on Netflix.
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Courtesy of Netflix
