Urgent call: Make it Pacquiao vs. Matthysse
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Feb 2018
VETERAN promoter Bob Arum made a promise to provide something unique (and nice) for Manny Pacquiao?s next fight. After a long wait, it turned out the unusual opponent Arum meant was former world title-holder Mike Alvarado.
Top Rank Inc. has announced that the Pacquiao-Alvarado bout would be featured side-by-side with the WBO welterweight title defense in April of Australian Jeff Horn against the unbeaten Terence Crawford of Omaha.
Alvarado is a banged-up warrior who got seriously crushed in a losing title defense against Ruslan Provodnikov in October 2013. He was stopped in ten rounds.
**
As noted by Philboxing.com founder and chief editor Dong Secuya, Alvarado next lost by decision to Juan Manuel Marquez in May 2014, before being stopped by Brandon Rios in three rounds in January 2015.
?It was in the last Rios loss that he seemed out of it,? Dong Secuya said.
It?s a bit puzzling, but if there?s anything unique Arum has found, it could be Alvarado?s four-straight wins (against unranked foes) since his return to the ring.
**
For the record, Pacquiao has not bothered to comment directly on Arum?s choice of Alvarado.
Yesterday, veteran sportswriter Nick Giongco reported Pacquiao has bared his choice of a next opponent.
?I want Matthyssee,? Giongo said Pacquiao told him during a break in the Senate Tuesday afternoon.
Giongco said Pacquiao believes his own aggressive style and Matthysse?s penchant for toe-to-toe combat would make for a very compelling bout.
**
Matthysse took the WBA 147-lb belt with a stoppage of Thailand?s Tewa Kiram last month. His record is 39 wins, 4 losses, one draw with 36 KOs.
?Matthysse is the fight that I like, a fight fans would also like to see,? Giongco quoted Pacquiao as declaring.
Trainer Freddie Roach has himself said he would love Pacquiao to face Matthysee next.
Meanwhile, Bob Arum has declared Pacquiao vs Matthysse an impossibility.
?I see Manny has talked about fighting Matthysse,? Arum told Boxingscene. ?But that?s not gonna happen.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Tapales bags WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Boston, NY and Minnesota One Win Away; Push Orlando, Detroit and LAL on Brink
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 28 Apr 2025Raga beats Bañares in SBA Philippine Open, pockets ₱400,000 cash prize
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 28 Apr 2025OK-C You Next Season, Memphis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Edges Benn in Thrilling Grudge Match for the Ages
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Due to Illness, H2O Syve Withdraws from Tonight’s Bout
Sun, 27 Apr 2025Filipino FM Ivan Travis Cu runner-up in Budapest First Saturday Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 27 Apr 2025Home Teams Rule the Day
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Marlon Tapales Makes Weight for WBC International Title Fight in Gensan
Sat, 26 Apr 2025WELTERWEIGHT ERIC TUDOR TAKES UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER KEVIN JOHSON IN MAIN EVENT OF ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ FROM THUNDER STUDIOS AND LIVE ON DAZN
Sat, 26 Apr 2025Eubank vs Benn: Like Father Like Son
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 26 Apr 2025Eubank Jr. Misses Weight Ahead of Highly Anticipated Benn Clash
Sat, 26 Apr 2025Rafael Espinoza: “I’m Going To Steal The Show On May 4!”
Sat, 26 Apr 2025CO-PROMOTER OF TONIGHT'S ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’ SAYS FIRST EVENT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
Sat, 26 Apr 2025