Unified corner best foil vs. Matthysse
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 May 2018
THE latest on the Fight of Champions in Kuala Lumpur says Justin Fortune has vowed to make Manny Pacquiao score a big win over WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina on July 15.
Veteran sportswriter Eddie Alinea, Team Pacquiao confidante, said Fortune, expert conditioning coach, has assured there would be no problem preparing Pacquiao to beat Matthysse.
?A puncher, always a puncher. Manny is still very quick with his pair of hands and feet, they?ll be his main weapons,? Fortune told Alinea.
?It will be a tough fight,? Fortune added, ?but Manny will be the stronger, quicker, the better fighter.?
**
Initial odds favored Pacquiao over Matthysse, although the eight-division world champion from the Philippines continued to maintain he would be the underdog against the 35-year-old Argentine champion also known as La Maquina.
Before Fortrune?s arrival last Friday, Pacquiao boyhood ally Buboy Fernandez, assigned to take over as trainer, offered pointers on how he planned to train and prepare Pacquiao.
There was mention of making Pacquiao, 39, to develop greater stamina and speed.
**
It?s a terrific team-up, considering that Fortune had served as conditioning coach in practically all the Pacquiao fights that Hall-of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach handled.
Two heads are better than one, Fortune and Buboy Fernandez working together in Pacquiao?s corner could really do wonders for Manny?s world title challenge in July.
Of course, this is the first time Fortune and Fernandez will be working in strict tandem.
**
In Pacquiao?s last fight in Brisbane on July 2, Fernandez worked the Philippine corner in tandem with Freddie Roach.
It?s, of course, no secret that chaos and confusion, mainly during the rugged and suspenseful finishing rounds, were often present in Pacquiao?s corner during the championship.
There were conflicting orders on what Pacquiao should be doing: whether to go hard for a knockout or box competently and sure.
**
In fact, veteran cutrman Miguel Diaz would later complain that he could not even make his way to the wounded and bloodied Pacquiao during the crucial breaks.
Let?s hope and pray there would be unity and composure in the Philippine corner come July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.
Hail Sen. Manny Pacquiao. Win this BIG for us, Sir!
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