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.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weights from Panamá City
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 17 May 2025CRUZ LANDS IBF ELIMINATOR AGAINST MISHIRO IN NEW YORK
Sat, 17 May 2025Fisher and Allen Hit the Scales Ahead of Highly Anticipated Heavyweight Rematch
Sat, 17 May 2025Boxing: Sport Entertainment or Entertainment Sport (Part Two)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 16 May 2025NYC PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: BERLANGA VS. SHEERAZ / SHAKUR STEVENSON VS. WILLIAM ZEPEDA
Fri, 16 May 2025HALL OF FAME TRAINER FREDDIE ROACH TO BE HONORED BY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN PUBLIC CEREMONY AT FREDDIE'S GYM!
Fri, 16 May 2025HALL OF FAME BROADCASTER JIM LAMPLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
Fri, 16 May 2025Minnesota, Indiana Back Again in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 15 May 2025In Jonathan’s memory
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 15 May 2025WATCH: HITCHINS AND KAMBOSOS JR IN INTENSE FACE-OFF WITH ONE MONTH UNTIL NYC SHOWDOWN
Thu, 15 May 2025Toledo-Xignex Trojans finally win the PCAP online team chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 15 May 2025Former WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Nazarena Romero to Exercise Immediate Rematch Clause Against Mayelli Flores Rosquero
Thu, 15 May 2025Pacquiao's Controversial WBC Ranking Explained: "Legend" Status Cited Amid July Return
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 15 May 2025No-contest ruling awaited
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 15 May 2025FISHER VS. ALLEN 2 + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Thu, 15 May 2025