The Pacquiao-Matthysse showdown to define their future
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Jul 2018
KUALA LUMPUR ? Argentine World Boxing Association welterweight belt-owner Lucas Matthysse and Filipino challenger Manny Pacquiao face off Sunday at the Axiata Arena here in a 12-round showdown that could determine each other?s future.
The 35-year-old Matthysse is actually putting his 147-pound diadem at stake against the soon-to-be 40-year-old Pacquiao with the winner setting the stage for a possible marquee meeting with the Word Boxing Organization titleholder and current pound-for-pound best Terence Crawford sometime this autumn or early 2019.
It could be the end of an illustrious career, however, for whoever losses although for Pacquiao, the only human being in the history of sweet science to win world titles in eight weight divisions, he still has his boxing promotion to go to depending on the outcome of this fight he himself is offering.
Both Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) and Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) expect an all-action fight as both are still acknowledged as two of the best and most exciting action fighters today regardless of their age.
Although many believe both are clearly not the same fighters as they were a few years back, particularly the Filipino ring icon who, they said is a far cry from the guy who knocked out Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto one after the other in three consecutive fights that earned him the accolade ?Fighter of the Decade? in 2000.
Pacquiao, 5-4 in his last nine outings, is looking forward to his 60th career victory and rejoin the elite group of boxers with a title of champion before their names.
His last defeat happened only a year ago at the hands of an obscure former school teacher who was fighting for only 18th pro-assignment and wasn?t given a China man?s chance to emerge victor but did shockingly win albeit questionably.
The father of five with former Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee, incidentally, held the WBO version of the 147-pound gonfalon taken from him by Horn.
It took him a year of hibernation to decide to climb the ring again and needed to busy himself with his pre-occupation as member of the Philippine Senate to recover from that shock.
Matthysse, on the other hand, is also considered several years past his peak from the time he was known as one of the most dangerous and avoided boxers in his weight.
Following his unanimous decision loss to Danny Garcia in 2013, he fought just six times more and in one of those, he suffered he first knockout of his career to Viktor Postol in 2015.
Since that setback to Postol, he?s fought just twice and scored two knockout victories against the overmatched Emmanuel Taylor and Tewa Kiram from whom he took the WBA plum although he looked like a shell of his former self.
Pacquiao and Matthysse might, indeed, be past their prime, but both, no doubt, can still be entertaining offensive sluggers who can dish out bell-to-bell kind of action that can delight fans no end.
Never mind that this fight should?ve held, say five years ago when both were considered among the best welterweights.
Both acknowledged each other?s talents with the welterweight champion paying his challenger tribute as a great champion, who he vowed to conquer when they square off Sunday.
"He is a great champion but he still hasn't faced 'The Machine'," Argentina's Matthysse told reporters at a the packed press conference ahead of their WBA title clash.
"If he decides to retire after I beat him then that is his decision, I am here to defend my title," he said when asked for comment on his camp?s earlier pronouncement he will retire the Filipino legend.
?His action-packed style, Pacquiao, for his part, said, was one of the reasons the fight attracted him. "When I saw his fight against Tewa Kiram it was a good fight. I believe we can create good action in the ring so the fans will be happy."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Vargas urges boxers to defy odds
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025GIORGIO VISIOLI SETS OUT MISSION TO LAND MAJOR TITLES AFTER TENSE FIRST FACE-OFF WITH ENGLISH TITLE RIVAL JOE HOWARTH
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
Tue, 16 Dec 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025