PACQUIAO-MATTHYSSE FEATS, FACTS AND FIGURES 7: MANNY WILL KO LUCAS SAYS KAMBOSOS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 17 Jun 2018
Manny Pacquiao?s Australian sparring partner George Kambosos, believes the fighting senator will knockout Argentinean WBA "regular" welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse on July 15, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Kambosos thinks Pacquiao is a still a very perilous opponent even at 39 years old, is not yet at the end of the road after undergoing several sparring rounds with the world's only eight division world champion.
?I believe Manny can knock Matthysse out,? Kambosos was quoted by The Manila Times. ?Matthysse?s defense is not superb and he relies only on his offense. This is perfect for a fighter like Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao?s hand speed, combination punching, and power will lead to a knock out over Matthysse. Pacquiao is still at the top of his game.?
Kambosos added that Matthysse is also 35, so the age factor won?t play a major role in this fight. He said Manny is "fitter, faster and smarter" than Matthysse and he is confident in the way they are training and sparring.
"He can keep a very fast pace for the whole 12 rounds if it is to go to a decision. Manny is getting sharper, faster and stronger week by week. We have had an excellent week of sparring and are on perfect track for the July 15th fight," declared Kambosos.
The Aussie undefeated fighter said the Pacquiao loss to Jeff Horn in Brisbane in July 2017 was a close fight. And in his opinion, Pacquiao has done enough to win the fight by at least 2/3 rounds.
"There is no weight on Manny?s shoulders for the Matthysse fight more than anything now being the challenger for the title has motivated him more to show the fans he still has more to give to the world," Kambosos said.
Kambosos, known as Ferocious, is a Greek-Australian professional boxer fighting in the lightweight division. He is currently WBA Oceania and IBF Pan Pacific lightweight champion. In May 2018 he had his American debut and knocked out Jose Forero in just 1:48 of the first round. He has 14 wins, 8 by KO and still undefeated.
Meanwhile, Hall of Fame boxing commentator Bob Sheridan is giving Matthysse a very good chance to upset Pacquiao.
"I think every fight is dangerous for Manny at this stage of his career. Manny has accomplished everything he can, he?s 39 years of age and that?s a problem. No matter how gifted an athlete you are and no matter how much you train, you?re not the same as when you were 29, and that?s the case with Manny Pacquiao," Sheridan told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
He said Horn was the first one to expose him, even though he had a decent and a close fight throughout. "Matthysse has the powerful right and if Manny gets caught, he?ll go, and that?s all there is about it. Every fight at this stage is dangerous when you?re fighting a world class fighter like Matthysse. It?s a dangerous fight," he added.
A loss would most probably send Pacquiao into retirement while Matthysse would grab the biggest win of his boxing career. Pacquiao will be inactive for more than a year on the day of the fight after a shocking unanimous decision loss to Horn.
Matthysse, who is now trained by renowned coach Joel Diaz, is on a hot streak, winning five of his last six fights, losing only to Viktor Postol.
Photo: Manny Pacquiao (R) spars with Australian George Kombosos in General Santos City. Photo by Wendell Alinea.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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