THE SQUARED RING: Clear and Present Danger
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Jul 2018
Kuala Lumpur - A self-confessed ?biggest fan of Manny Pacquiao? from Thailand asked the boxer why he elected to face an opponent with a 92 percent KO percentage.
?Why did you choose to fight Lucas Matthysse? He has 39 wins and 36 KOs. Why did you choose to fight him?" asked the concerned admirer.
Pacquiao, amused by the question, replied in his usual guarded response.
?I choose Lucas Mattysse because he is a fighter. He is a very aggressive fighter who throws a lot of punches. Me and him fighting - I can?t imagine the action that we are going to do in the ring.?
Matthysse may be described as a one-sided brawler but he is dangerous with his fists. Thirty six of his past thirty nine foes did not reach the final bell.
He may be easy pickings for the Manny of old but not the Manny of now.
Hence the concern of his ?biggest fan? -and most fans of his.
Pacquiao has slowed down from the days that he was called as the ?Pacific Storm? by the great Larry Merchant. At almost 40 and when most of his colleagues have called it a day, Pacquiao is still fighting wars like last year with a dirty Jeff Horn. He is also waging a battle against the formidable Father Time.
The eight-division champion has not stopped an opponent in nine years, Matthysse has knocked out his last foe with a jab and after a year of inactivity.
The knockout-seeking Pacman is long gone and Matthysse?s fists warns of a clear and present danger.
The Filipino legend?s former opponent and now co-promoter, Oscar Dela Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, gave his insight of how he thought the fight will end up.
?You have to take a look at Manny Pacquiao?s last fight. He hasn?t knocked somebody out since 2009. So, you have to take a look at that. If Manny wins, he?s going to win by decision. If Lucas wins, I think he?ll win by knockout.?
If Dela Hoya uttered this ten years ago, he would have been met by ridicule by fans and the boxing media.
Matthysse?s team is also heedless of Pacquiao?s hands, they are more worried of the how the fight will be scored by the three judges at ringside given that the fight is in the Asian legend?s turf.
?I just want to make sure that all the officials are up to par to this magnificent event,? expressed Mario Arano, Matthysse?s manager.
Pacquiao downplayed his Thai fan?s apprehension and instead talked about the possible fireworks that this Sunday?s fight can offer.
?My concern for every fight is to create more action in the ring, to make the fans happy.?
That is typical Manny Pacquiao. His speed may have slowed down but his please-the fans-attitude at all costs - is one thing that has never changed through the years.
Not even if he?s approaching forty and his skills diminished. Not even against a dangerous foe with a fist that can remind him of the devastating knockout he suffered against a former rival in 2012.
And that is a recipe for danger.
And that is why we will be watching.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and @Freemazon910 on Twitter.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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