PACQUIAO HAS THREE MORE FIGHTS LEFT, PRAISES MATTHYSSE ON HIS RETIREMENT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Aug 2018
After the meeting with his former protege Manny Pacquiao, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum disclosed that Pacquiao still wants to fight professionally three more times. The plan is to fight once in 2018, then twice in 2019. After that the veteran fighter will retire for good.
Arum told The Manila Bulletin that the meeting was very cordial and informative. ?We know what he wants. He wants a fight this year and two more next year and then Sayonara.?
He added that no deals were made at the meeting. All he could say is that Pacquiao wants to fight again on a date in December and no opponent has been determined yet.
An insider of Pacquiao's core group was quoted by the Philippine Star: ?Nothing was sealed. It was really a simple visit. Bob Arum reiterated that he?s willing to help in any future plans of Manny Pacquiao. But nothing was finalized."
Pacquiao and Arum last met during the senator's loss of his WBO welterweight crown to Jeff Horn in Brisbane. Since then they have seen each other again last week at the champ's residence in General Santos City.
They parted ways during Pacquiao's successful WBA welterweight title campaign last July in Kuala Lumpur. His own MP Promotions promoted the fight with Top Rank only was tasked to brosdcast the fight in the United States through ESPN+.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao appreciated the move of Matthysse calling it a right decision to retire from boxing at the age of 35 after their fight with a career record of 39-5 with 36 knockout wins. He floored three times enroute to a seventh round stoppage in Malaysia last month.
In the pronouncement of his retirement, Matthysse explained that his desire to continue fighting has diminished considerably.
?That?s okay. He really earned a lot financially in his last fight. He should be proud of his boxing career and he has a good record,? Pacquiao was quoted by The Manila Times.
?It was a great pleasure to fight somebody like him from Argentina. My favorite football team is Argentina. He just made the right decision if he feels that way or he doesn?t like to box anymore. At the same time, he?s the one who will decide it if he?s going to continue."
Matchmaker Sean Gibbons commended the Argentine former champ: ?I would say Lucas Matthysse had a great career when he came back and won his first legit WBA world title." He was referring to the sensational 8th round KO against Tewa Kiram when he grabbed his world title last January.
?At 35, it rejuvenated him. And going against Senator Pacquiao, he was rejuvenating. But after being devastated by Pacquiao, he just realized that he didn?t have it anymore. He left the boxing fans with a lot of memorable fights. He has a fight of the year with John Molina. He left the Matthysse name with a good legacy," added Gibbons.
After the loss to Pacquiao, Matthysse had no excuses, even saying he lost to "a great fighter and a great champion" and that he would come back from the loss. But he opted for the best recourse that is to hang up his gloves.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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