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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Filipino sports hero Manny Pacquiao had gone through so many tough battles in his glittering 23-year career.
Manny Pacquiao, left, and Argentine world champion Lucas Matthysse pose after weigh-ins in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Matthysse and Pacquiao are scheduled to fight today for the World Boxing Association welterweight title.
A gallant ring gladiator who doesn’t back down from any challenge, Pacquiao endured all the trials and tribulations that smacked his way before carving his own niche in the hallowed halls of boxing’s all-time greats.
Although he’s already an iconic figure on a global scale with his stirring exploits in the fight arena, Pacquiao has to face the most crucial bout of his career yet.
That moment beckons when Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38KOs) takes on defending Argentine champion Lucas ‘The Machine’ Matthysse (39-4, 36KOs) for the WBA welterweight title topbilling the “Fight of Champions’ today at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The two protagonists both made the regulatory weight limit during the official weigh-in yesterday at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Center. Pacquiao came in at 146 lbs. while Matthysse hit the scales at 146.7 pounds.
Being the sport’s only eight-division world champion with countless accolades tucked under his belt - not to mention the millions of dollars that flowed into his bank accounts, some quarters felt that it’s high time for Pacquiao to hang up his gloves for good as he has nothing left to prove at this point of his prizefighting journey.
But Pacquiao thinks otherwise, insisting that he still has something left in his tank.
And Pacquiao is dead set on showing to the world the revitalized version of himself in his 12-round brawl with Matthysse that is the first major boxing blockbuster in Malaysia since heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali beat Joe Bugner over 15 rounds in 1975.
“I am motivated. I am happy. I am hungry. I am excited to show the world a new Manny Pacquiao,” the fighting senator said.
He did not categorically say if it would be his last, but Pacquiao unequivocally admitted that the future of his fistic career will hinge on the outcome of the Matthysse fight.
“I am not saying it will be the last (fight), but it will be the basis to think about (whether) to continue or not,” Pacquiao told the Agence France Presse.
Pacquiao is the heavy favorite against Matthysse, but he must be extra careful as there
De are some underlying factors that might just work to his disadvantage.
Not that he hasn’t fought for a year since losing his WBO crown to Jeff Horn nor he’s climbing up the ring without his most trusted cornerman Freddie Roach for the first time in 18 years.
Pacquiao, who turns 40 this December, is going up against a dangerous opponent with a superb knockout rate in Matthysse, his four years junior.
Oscar de la Hoya, who co-promotes the event with Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, himself believes that Pacquiao will really have a hard time in dealing with the power-hitting Matthysse inside the ring.
“A lot of people think that Lucas Matthysse is just a knockout artist. But he’s an intelligent fighter too. He knows how to box and counterpunch. This fight is interesting in terms of styles. The people who really know boxing know that Matthysse can change his style and even confuse him. He may even be able to confuse him and land some counterpunches,” warned la Hoya.
While he admired the explosive and rapid-punching Pacquiao who sent him to retirement exactly a decade ago, De la Hoya said he doesn’t know the kind of boxer Pacquiao is right now.
“I really don’t know how he is now. In boxing, you’re as good as your last fight. That’s what boxing is. That’s why this fight is important for Pacquiao to khow that he is still the same Manny Pacquiao. You have to perform and show the people that you still have it. This is a sink or swim type of fight for both guys,” the Golden Boy added.
On his end, Matthysse is so sure of victory to the extent of saying that he doesn’t care if Pacquiao will retire or not once he beats him. “If he decides to retire after I beat him then that is his decision. I am here to defend my title,” said the reigning champ.
As the two warriors head to the battlefield vowing to wage an all-out war against each other, only one thing is for sure when the dust settles - it’s either the end of an era or the Pacquiao legend lives on.