SPORTS ROUNDUP 11: WHO'S NEXT FOR PACQUIAO - HORN, CRAWFORD OR LOMACHENKO?
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 17 Jul 2018
"Congratulations Manny Pacquiao," was the message on Horn's instagram account. "Rematch?" Horn obviously is interested to face again the eight division world champion plotting after he lost his WBO welterweight crown to Terence Crawford in Las Vegas in June. There were reports circulating of a possible fight with Anthony Mundine, but it would be forgotten if Pacquiao would agree to a rematch. But if ever it pushes through, definitely Pacquiao will not agree to having it in Australia.
There were those who suggested that Pacquiao should face Terence Crawford next. On the part of Crawford it could fortify his marketability as a world champion. But for Pacquiao, it would be too risky at this time of his career, going 40 and giving priority to his senate duties than being a full time boxer. A showdown with one of the best if not the best pound for pound fighter in the world will do Pacquiao harm than good.
The same scenario will happen if he decides to fight Vasily Lomachenko, even if Pacquiao is the larger fighter. Pacquiao versus Lomachenko would be a more captivating clash. But the Ukrainian is at the peak of his career, being one of the top two fighters of the world, still a very dangerous opponent for Pacquiao. The two-time Olympic gold medalist won by KO against 9 foes in 11 wins.
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Pacquiao is all praises for his present head trainer Buboy Fernandez. But he is open to the possibility of hiring back Freddie Roach again. ?Training with Buboy, I?m not saying that Freddie Roach is not a good trainer. He?s a good trainer. He?s a legend. I?m thinking to get back Freddie Roach again. I?m thinking about that. But Buboy has done well for this training camp and this fight. So I really appreciate it," Pacquiao told Boxing Scene.
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Boxing legend Mike Tyson expressed admiration for Pacquiao's performance in stopping Lucas Matthysse. ?I saw the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight. Manny Pacquiao has still got it. He moved really good. Fast jab. Moving fast. Half of Manny Pacquiao is enough to beat most of the good fighters out there now. He looked really good last night,? Mike Tyson was quoted by Boxing News and Views.
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?If you have a heavy bag, you look good,? boxing trainer Teddy Atlas commented in ESPN about Pacquiao?s knockout win over Matthysse. ?All you Pac maniac fans out there, no disrespect. Give him a lot of credit; he?s 39-years-old. He got the job done. He looked good against a 36-year-old, who in the end, he quit; a diminished Matthysse. He did not fight. He did not try. In very little spots, he threw. For the most part, he was a passive guy, who looked like he was just getting paid,? Atlas was quoted by Boxing News 24.
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The FIFA World Cup 2018 finals took place on July 15 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, between France and Croatia. France won the match 4?2 to claim their second World Cup title, the first one was won when it hosted the 1998 World Cup, 20 years ago. This is the fourth consecutive title won by a European team, after Italy in 2006, Spain in 2010 and Germany in 2014. France swept the knockout stage with wins over Australia, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay and Belgium. A total of 64 matches were played in 12 venues across 11 cities.
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Novak Djokovic won his fourth career men's singles title at Wimbledon on Sunday and his 13th career Grand Slam. Rafael Nadal has 17, Roger Federer 20. It was a 2-hour, 19-minute defeat of South African Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in Sunday's finals.
Angelique Kerber defeated the 36-year-old Serena Williams 6-3 6-3 in 65 minutes. The 11th seed became the first German winner at Wimbledon since Steffi Graf in 1996. The 23-time grand slam winner Williams failed to make history to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 grand slam titles.
The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton watched Serena in Saturday's ladies' singles finals.
Photo: Manny Pacquiao arrives in his hometown General Santos City in Southern Philippines Monday after stopping former WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in their world title fight at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, July 15.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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