Matthysse is strong, dangerous, but -- Fortune
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 18 Jun 2018
Starting this week, boxing great Manny Pacquiao?s build up program for his coming fight with World Boxing Association welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse gears towards tactics and strategies.
The normal routine -- sparring and other ring stuff, roadwork, etc, -- will continue but with a lesser frequency, according to strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune with the training team, headed by Buboy Fernandez giving ample time on charting game plans on how to make the Filipino former belt-owner now challenger, win.
The soon-to-be 40 year-old Philippine Senator is challenging the heavy-punching 35-year-old Argentine titleholder, nicknamed ?La Maquina,? for his aggressive style of fighting, for the latter?s 147-pound crown on Sunday, July 15 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
?We?ll continue with what we started and keep Manny where he is today, but this time, three weeks before we leave the country, we?ll also have to spend time drawing game plans on how to beat Lucas,? Fortune, owner of Fortune Boxing Gym at the heart of Hollywood in Los Angeles, said.
?We?ve been watching tapes of Matthysse?s latest fights, including his losses to (Victor) Postol and (Danny) Garcia, the past several days and we?ve found several defects and weaknesses in his style, which we?ll try to exploit,? Fortune bared.
?Of course, we also found where his strength are and we, certainly, will find solution to offset,? Fortune, a former Australian heavyweight campaigner explained.
?Lucas is definitely strong and dangerous and has one the best trainers in the business,? Fortune said in reference to the champ?s trainer Joel Diaz. ?But as we?ve noticed, he has a few bad habits and weaknesses Manny can easily capitalized on.?
Fortune said he expects a good fight boxing fans will surely enjoy ?especially if Matthysse decides to mix it up with Manny. That makes it more interesting.?
?We?re preparing Manny for a worse scenario and we know, too, they?re preparing for us. So it?ll boil down to who prepares well, where, I believe we?ll have the edge.?
?Manny, after more than two decades of fighting, is still on top of his game. He also has suffered a few setbacks and earned brickbats as a result,? he quipped.
?But those, I?m sure, taught him lessons and make him a more intelligent fighter. That?ll be his biggest advantage in this fight,? Fortune said.
Photo: Manny Pacquiao (R) spars with Australian George Kombosos in General Santos. Photo by Wendell Alinea.
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