SPORTS ROUNDUP 2: WRIGHT WARNS PACQUIAO ON MATTHYSSE'S GOOD PUNCH
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 07 Jul 2018
Former junior middleweight world champion Ronald "Winky" Wright believes Manny Pacquiao must avoid having a war with Lucas Matthysse on July 15th for the WBA "regular" welterweight title in Malaysia, according to Boxing Scene.
Boxing Hall of Famer Wright spoke to On The Ropes Boxing radio.
"Anybody who has a good punch has a chance, that?s why they call it a puncher?s chance. If Pacquiao still has the good legs and can move in and out like he does, it?s going to be hard for anybody to beat him."
"If he stays there and just tries to catch Matthysse with a big punch, Matthysse has a good punch and could end it," cautioned Wright.
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"Manny Pacquiao. I want to defeat a legendary fighter like Manny. This is not Judah, Alexander, Postol or Garcia," said Matthysse, referring to Zab Judah, Devon Alexander, Viktor Postol and Danny Garcia, the four fighters who defeated him.
Matthysse arrived Malaysia with manager Mario Arano, trainer Joel Diaz, Golden Boy Promotions PR man Ramiro Gonzalez and three other assistants. His few escorts is lesser than Pacquiao's entourage which chartered a plane from General Santos City, including trainers, utility persons, family members, fans and supporters.
Matthysse arrived early to adjust to jet lag and leave no stone unturned to guarantee his victory. "This is Manny Pacquiao, and this is the quest for anyone in boxing (to defeat Pacquiao,)" said Matthysse over Boxing Scene.
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Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes said the brawl between the Philippines and Australia at the FIBA World Cup Qualifier match on July 2, at the Philippine Arena was "absolutely unacceptable." But Reyes pointed out Daniel Kickert as hitting four Gilas players even during the warm-ups.
"It?s absolutely unacceptable but the reality is that (Daniel) Kickert [was] hitting our players during the warm-ups. He hit Carl Bryan Cruz, he hit Matthew Wright, Pogoy and he hit Calvin Abueva during the warm-ups," Reyes was quoted by Rappler.
"So when he did that, the foul of Pogoy on Goulding was an offensive foul, it was a basketball play, but he (Kickert) was the one who came in and decked Pogoy. 5th time. You don?t expect to do it to a team 5 times and not expect to retaliate."
The Australia Boomers won against Gilas Pilipinas by default, 89-53, when Baser Amer was the only player left in the court after nine Gilas players and four Australians were ejected due to the melee in the third quarter. The other two players June Mar Fajardo and Gabe Norwood who were not ejected fouled out of the game.
"Our prayer is that we come out better and stronger from this as we affirm that it is our honor to fight for our country 'til we can?t fight anymore, with all our hearts," Reyes wrote in his Instagram.
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Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O?Neal said LeBron James? move to Los Angeles is not enough for the Lakers to match the Golden State Warriors"superteam" over CNBC?s "Fast Money Halftime Report." O?Neal said James "is a very marketable guy ... but you must win at some point."
James, a three-time NBA champion, joins a team that finished last season with 35-47, failing to make the playoffs. ?I think for him to be considered a great Laker, he definitely has to win a championship,? said O?Neal.
The Golden State Warriors has Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and now recruited four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.
?In my opinion, this is the most talented starting five in the history of the game,? O?Neal said. ?The good thing about the Golden State superteam is they play an excellent style of basketball."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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