PACQUIAO-MATTHYSSE FEATS, FACTS AND FIGURES 11: EVERYTHING'S FINE AND THE FIGHT WILL HAPPEN ON JULY 15 SAYS MANNY
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 Jun 2018
MP Promotions business head Arnold Vegafria assured fans that the much-awaited WBA welterweight title bout between Pacquiao and Matthysse will happen as scheduled on July 15th at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"Everything is being arranged and on schedule for the July 15 Fight of Champions between Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia." Vegafria was quoted by reporters
Rumors were circulating that the bout might be postponed or cancelled. ESPN senior boxing writer Dan Rafael wrote that MP Promotions "missed a number of financial deadlines, putting the title bout at risk."
According to ESPN, "MP Promotions has only made a payment of $500,000 to Matthysse and his promoter Golden Boy and still owes them $2 million more for the title fight." The balance as what ESPN said is more than a month overdue, and MP Promotions also missed other deadlines that would cover production costs and PPV coverages.
The ESPN writer also talked about Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, planning a showdown between Matthysse and new WBC welterweight titlist Terence Crawford.
"I don't know what's going to happen with the fight, but if it doesn't happen, I would hope to talk to Golden Boy about having Matthysse fight Crawford," Arum said.
Vegafria reported that both Pacquiao and Matthysse are training hard for the championship fight.
"Both Pacquiao and Matthysse are training hard in their respective camps to give the fans that will be viewing the fight all over the world an action-packed, competitive battle."
Last month, MP Promotions made a public statement that they collaborated with four of the biggest channels in the Philippines to bring the Pacquiao-Matthysse bout to the viewers in the Philippines which will happen right on schedule.
Arum expressed his uncertainty regarding the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight as "financial targets have been missed on different occasions by those staging the fight." Pacquiao?s MP Promotions is arranging the fight while Arum's Top Rank is negotiating with ESPN for US TV coverage.
Pacquiao disregarded the perception and assured the fight fans that the WBA championship will push through as scheduled. ?As far as I am concerned, everything is fine," he was quoted by The Manila Standard. "Lucas Matthysse and I are getting ready to give the fans their money?s worth and July 15 will be huge for boxing in Malaysia.?
Photo: Bob Arum (L) and Manny Pacquiao in file photo. Arum expressed doubts the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight in Kuala Lumpur will happen on July 15.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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