PACQUIAO-MATTHYSSE FEATS, FACTS AND FIGURES PART III
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 12 May 2018
Promoter Bob Arum thinks that the WBA welterweight title fight between Pacquiao and Matthysse is a pretty even fight. He cautions that Matthysse, who is younger at 35 than the 39-year-old Pacquiao, could be a dangerous opponent.
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?A very good run for his money and it?s a tough fight for Manny, but hopefully he will be successful,? Arum was quoted by The Manila Times. ?I think he (Pacquiao) has a very good chance, very good chance, but he got to train very hard."
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Pacquiao?s business manager Michael Koncz said Matthysse is determined to give the Filipino future Hall of Famer a very good fight compared to the other fighters lined up to face the fighting senator. ?This is not a tune-up. It?s a real fight. (Matthysse) has all the ingredients to make a fan friendly fight,? he said.
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Bob Arum earlier expressed doubts about the financial success of holding such a promotion in Malaysia, because boxing is not popular in the country. Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez has answered the Top Rank chief's criticism. ?Everywhere Manny Pacquiao fights, it?s going to be a hit,? he said.
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Arum however told Fighthub that if Pacquiao would be successful in Kuala Lumpur could end up fighting the dangerous Vasyl Lomachenko this winter. ?He might go up in weight and do a catchweight fight against [Manny] Pacquiao this winter. We?ll see. I?m talking to not a boxer but a senator."
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He was quoted in Boxing News 24, as saying: ?There?s a lot of great opponents at 135. There?s a lot of great champions. There?s [Ray] Beltran, there?s [Mikey] Garcia, and there?s a lot of fights for him."
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?It?s a very tough fight for Manny,? Arum said of Pacquiao?s upcoming clash against Matthysse in Malaysia. ?He?s not as fast or as manoeuvrable as he once was. He?s approaching 40. He has his work cut out for him. It?s been over 20 years [for Pacquiao] that he?s been a pro, and he?s now going to be 40.?
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?If he?s successful with Matthysse and Loma is successful with his coming fight with Linares and another fight, then they?ll probably meet in the winter at a catchweight of 140. Manny fights at 144," Arum added.
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Many fans and enthusiasts are questioning Pacquiao's fighting ability against the younger Matthysse. "It's not about a number, it's not about age, that doesn't matter," he said. "It depends how you discipline yourself in training, how you prepare."
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Pacquiao said that the Matthysse showdown definitely would not be his last fight, as he plans to perform his final bout in the Philippines. "Definitely this is not my last fight," he said. "I think I still have got a couple of more fights (until I) retire."
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Freddie Roach is no longer the trainer for Pacquiao's fight against Matthysse and his post is taken over by long time buddy Buboy Fernandez. "As an assistant trainer, you have to man the post. The ship has no captain so you have to take over," said Fernandez, Pacquiao's assistant trainer for more than two decades, as told to Rappler.
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Fernandez said he is very proud that Pacquiao trusted him, and said no one, not even him, could replace Roach. "I cannot compare myself to coach Freddie. Freddie Roach is legendary. I have not met anyone who is as great as coach Freddie," said the boxer-turned trainer.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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