It was a furious return after a one-year layoff, after eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao claimed the WBA (regular) welterweight title with a seventh round knockout of Lucas Matthysse.

The 39-year-old, fighting for the first time since his shocking loss to Jeff Horn in July of last year, was dominant at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pacquiao was in control from the outset against Matthysse, and his knockout marked his first since 2009 when he put away Miguel Cotto in the twelfth round.

The Filipino dropped Matthysse with a left uppercut in the third round and he knocked the Argentinian down once more in the fifth with a shot to the temple.

Another huge left hand in the seventh proved the third and final knockdown as referee Kenny Bayless waved off the fight and Pacquiao (60-7-2) claimed the title.

For Matthysse (39-5), it marked the 35-year-old's first defeat since 2015.

This was Pacquiao's first bout in 16 years without his Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao parted ways with Roach earlier this year.

There was never an exact reason given for his dismissal of Roach, but the veteran trainer recently revealed that Pacquiao has not spoken to him since last year's fight with Horn.

To replace Roach, Pacquiao promoted best friend and longtime assistant trainer, Buboy Fernandez.

And the the Filipino star was very happy with his work.

"I'm not saying Freddie Roach is not a good trainer, he's a legend," Pacquiao said to GMA News.

"But Buboy, he handled well for this fight and training camp. I really appreciate it."

Pacquiao then revealed the strategy that Buboy put together to nullify the punching power of Matthysse. 

"Our strategy is to [be] patient... take time, don't rush. Don't be careless like what we did before. Just focus on throwing hard punches and counter punch. We stick to that strategy," Pacquiao said.