SPORTS ROUNDUP 9: MATTHYSEE SAYS HE HAS NO RESPECT FOR PACQUIAO AND WILL WIN BY KO
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Jul 2018
Lucas Matthysse wants to knock out Manny Pacquiao to successfully defend his World Boxing Association regular welterweight title. "I know Manny Pacquiao brings an intense energy in a fight, so we are ready for that. All we need to do is just to keep composed, make sure that he is ready to catch Manny at the right time and have no respect for Manny," Matthysse's trainer, Joel Diaz, was quoted by The Associated Press.
Both fighters easily tipped the scales below the 147-pound limit for their match, entitled "Fight of Champions." Pacquiao weighed in at 146 pounds while Matthysse registered the scales at 146.7 pounds.
The KO Machine Matthysse will deliver power punches from both hands which won 36 out of his 39 matches by knockout, Diaz said. "All I can say is this...it's not going to be an easy fight for Manny Pacquiao. If Lucas lands any punches on Pacquiao, he will hurt him because he hits real hard," Diaz added.
According to Diaz, Lucas Matthysse is stepping up to the level of opposition and he is fighting against a legend and the Argentinean is in the best shape of his life. "Everything is at stake for him. He is defending his title and secondly, he knows by beating Manny Pacquiao, it will be in the history books."
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Pacquiao will fight his first match in 34 bouts in the past 16 years where Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach will not be his trainer in camp and in his corner.
Matthysse only had three non-KO wins, a majority decision win over Ruslan Provodnikov in 2015, a 10-round unanimous decision over Carlos Jerez in 2008 and a win by third-round disqualification against Bernardino Gonzalez in 2004.
"My two fists are my strongest assets as a fighter," Matthysse said. "I always prepare for 12 rounds, but I'm always hoping to finish the fight by knockout."
Pacquiao underwent the longest layoff of his 23-year professional career, he rested for 378 days. He scored so many devastating knockouts against opponents such as Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales twice.
Pacquiao has not scored a knockout win in his past 13 fights with the last KO win over Cotto in the 12th round of their WBO welterweight title fight in 2009.
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"My style is to be aggressive. Obviously, I'll have a game plan and may need to adjust during the fight, but that's my style. I feel 100 percent sure that I will succeed in this fight. This is my biggest fight because Manny Pacquiao is a legend," said Matthysse.
"There were some difficulties with Kiram because of his size," Matthysse said. "But in this fight I expect to do much better and win by knockout, which is what I am hoping. Manny and me are the same size and I will be able to give a better fight.
"Pacquiao has done a lot throughout his career. He's still a great fighter and he must not be underestimated. My style is to be aggressive. Obviously, I'll have a game plan and may need to adjust during the fight, but that's my style. I feel 100 percent sure that I will succeed in this fight. This is my biggest fight because Manny Pacquiao is a legend."
Matthysse admitted he is a Pacquiao fan, and has wanted to fight him the past five years and finally is getting the chance to face his idol. It is a fight Pacquiao also wanted after Matthysse claimed a vacant secondary title in a shaky eighth-round knockout of unknown Thai fighter Tewa Kiram in January.
"I'm excited and happy for the opportunity to fight Pacquiao. It's an honor. But it's also a risk," said the WBA champ. "I've faced a lot of tough opponents, but not with his style. I've faced a lot of southpaws including Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, so I don't have any difficulties facing southpaws."
He added that fighting a legend like Pacquiao is about pride and he feels great to fight a future Hall of Famer like him. It would be very huge for his career in case he defeats the former pound-for-pound king.
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De La Hoya described Matthysee that he always wanted this fight, a dream fight for him and he will be in the best condition for this. The Golden Boy added that Lucas is very focused. The world renowned promoter believes this is an even fight, a dangerous but winnable fight.
Matthysse was once the most feared fighter in the junior welterweight division. He is called "La Maquina" because he is a wrecking machine who destroyed opponents such as Lamont Peterson and Humberto Soto. He was upset by a unsnimous decision to then WBA light welterweight champion Danny Garcia.
Matthysse won his next three fights before suffering an upset 10th-round knockout loss to Viktor Postol for the vacant WBC light welterweight title. Postol injured Matthysse's orbital eye bone and caused him to rest for 19 months. He won the two fights since then at welterweight by KO on Emmanuel Taylor and Tewa Kiram.
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It took six-and-a-half hours for Kevin Anderson and John Isner to finish their semifinal match at the Center Court. Anderson won 26-24 in the fifth set, breaking Wimbledon records, this being the longest Wimbledon semifinal in history. The previous record was 4 hours, 44 minutes in 2013 when Novak Djokovic defeated Juan Martin del Potro.
The South African Anderson beat American Isner 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 (26-24) after six hours and 35 minutes and the final set lasted almost three hours. A fifth and deciding set must be won by two clear games in a Grand Slam tournament.
Novak Djokovic led world number one Rafael Nadal after three sets of the other Wimbledon semi-final match when the play was suspended to be resumed on Saturday. The Serb, a three-time Wimbledon champion, is ahead 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (11-9). They had to wait for the Anderson-Isnet semi-final match to be finished.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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