MATTHYSSE'S MANAGER: "WE WERE NEVER IN DOUBT THAT THE PACQUIAO FIGHT WILL HAPPEN"
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 12 Jul 2018
Mario Arano in Manila.
KUALA LUMPUR ? WBA welterweight king Lucas Mattysse's manager Mario Arano, who manages the Argentine since he turned pro in 2004, has said he was never in doubt that the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight will push thru even after all the rumors circulated that the fight could be postponed or canceled due to financial problems during the lead up of the event that is going to happen on Sunday here (Saturday night in the Americas).
Describing the rumors as 'a bump in the road', Arano said ?I have full faith in Manny Pacquiao and his camp because Pacquiao is a gentleman and I highly respect him. When I was here in April, I looked into Pacquiao's eyes and saw that he was very serious and sincere. His team gave everything that we've needed,? Arano, who arrived here last week ahead of Sunday's big fight, said.
Arano, speaking thru Panamanian Carlos Costa who acted as interpreter, added that he trusted Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar de la Hoya and its president Eric Gomez who never expressed any doubt that the fight could happen.
News and rumors circulated in the last month that the fight could be canceled or postponed. ESPN's Dan Rafael, quoting Top Rank's Bob Arum, wrote that MP Promotions, Pacquiao's company who promotes the fight, did not meet its financial obligations to Golden Boy (for Matthysse's purse) and to ESPN for broadcasting the fight in North America.
Arum even entertained the idea of pitting his star fighter WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford to fight Matthysse if the Pacquiao fight falls thru.
Members of Team Pacquiao meanwhile had accused Arum, who, for the first time was not part of a promotion of a Pacquiao fight since Pacquiao fought Juan Manuel Marquez in 2004, of trying to sabotage the fight.
A Team Pacquiao member told Philboxing that Arum, who is no longer in contract to promote Pacquiao, tried to have Pacquiao signed a longer contract with ESPN in order to tie up Pacquiao's future fights.
Pacquiao's next fights however, if he wins against Matthysse on Sunday, will most likely be held in Asia, specifically in his native Philippines or in other Asian countries like Japan or China, according to sources.
Meanwhile the final press conference of Pacquiao-Matthysse will be held today, Thursday starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Hilton Hotel with the official weighin scheduled on Saturday starting at 8:00 a.m. at MITEC - Malaysia International Trade and Convention Center which will be open to the public. Fight day will be at the Axiata Arena with the first undercard fight starts at 7:00 a.m. Doors open at 6:00 a.m.
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