DE LA HOYA LENDS PACQUIAO A HELPING HAND IN PROMOTING PACQUIAO vs MATTHYSSE IN MALAYSIA
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 12 Jul 2018
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Years ago, they were opponents on top of the square ring. Today, Manny Pacquiao and Hall-of-Famer Oscar de la Hoya are buenos amigos joining efforts in the promotion of an exciting world title clash, one of the most awaited fights of the year: Manny Pacquiao vs Lucas Matthysse "Fight of Champions" for the WBA Welterweight World Title this coming Sunday July 15 (Saturday July 14 in the Western Hemisphere) at the 16,000-seat capacity Axiata Arena here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"I want to tell Manny Pacquiao how proud I am of him not only because he has become one of the most important legends in the sport of boxing, but because he is a legend outside the ring," said the 45 year-old De la Hoya, a living legend himself.
"Manny Pacquiao in the recent history of the sport (of boxing), has become one of the iconic figures that the sport has ever had. Why? Because he is building bridges between countries, he is attracting the youth to become fighters, to become warriors. He is giving them hope and opportunity.
"Manny Pacquiao is doing this through his fists, he is doing it through his heart, doing this because he loves to give back," assured Oscar.
Manny and Oscar together during presser in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on July 12 2018.
Team Pacquiao and Team Matthysse are in photo op together.
"I remember when I first promoted Manny Pacquiao versus Marco Antonio Barrera, many years ago. At that time we did not know who Manny Pacquiao was. But after he beat Marco Antonio Barrera, the world knew who Manny Pacquiao is going to become, and that is an 10-time world champion in eight different divisions, an iconic figure," continued De la Hoya, a gold medalist in the Summer Olympic Games of Barcelona in 1992.
"I really feel that it was (Manny Pacquiao's) destiny. It was his destiny to become who you have become today. So, I salute you. I admire you, and it really gives me great pleasure to be here (in Malaysia) with you today because Golden Boy Promotions has always been a company of putting the best against the best, and this is what we have here today: the best against the best.
"Lucas Matthysse has faced everybody at 140 pounds and 147 pounds. He is a dangerous fighter who has looked for this opportunity his whole life; and he has his Argentina team behind him. He has the whole Latin America behind him, just like Manny Pacquiao has all of his friends around the world behind him.
"This is what the sport of boxing is all about: bringing people together. And when these two fighters step inside the ring, there is no nationality inside the ring. No nationalities whatsoever. There are two fighters bringing the world together there are two fighters, the best against the best. There is no better sport in the world.
"Lucas Matthysse, congratulations to you in your career. Congratulations on everything that you have accomplished. This is your dream. This is your goal to fight the very best, and you are fighting the best in Manny Pacquiao. We wish you the very best.
"Manny, we wish you too the very best, and as Manny Pacquiao always say 'he just wants to make the people happy.'
"Finally, I also want to thank all the partners throughout the world. Manny Pacquiao has done a wonderful job in the promotion. I wish you the very best in everything you do. This world title fight will be broadcast all over the world to over 175 countries. So we have to be proud that Malaysia will be on the global stage.
"Come Sunday morning (Saturday night in the U.S.), Malaysia will be in the worldwide stage. So you should be proud," concluded The Golden Boy, one of the most popular and charismatic fighters ever in the sport of boxing.
The Pacquiao vs Matthysse "Fight of Champions" Sunday July 15 (Saturday July 14 in the Western Hemisphere) at Axiata Arena here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is an 11-bout boxing show produced by MP Promotions sponsored by Global Crypto Offering Exchange, Pac Token, Petron, San Miguel Corp., Anta, Philippine Airlines, Le Meridien Hotel and the Malaysian International Trade & Exhibition Center.
The first fight begins at 7 AM (Malaysia Time)
The author Carlos Costa of Panama is a fight reporter based in Cebu, Philippines. He is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Pacquiao vs Matthysse world title fight. Carlos can be reached by email: Carlos512@hotmail.com and Viber/Whatsapp: +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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