Manny bout to define career

– Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao (above) challenges Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt tomorrow knowing defeat could lower the curtain on one of the greatest careers in boxing history.

Pacquiao, 39, faced calls to retire when he lost the WBO belt to journeyman Australian Jeff Horn a year ago.

A second successive defeat, this time against the dangerous Argentine at Kuala Lumpur’s Axiata Arena, could see the veteran hang up his gloves for good.

But victory for Pacquiao (597-2, 38 KOs), who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, would extend his legendary status and his life in the ring beyond his 40th birthday in December.

Pacquiao is going for his 60th victory, but despite winning 38 of his first 47 fights by knockout, he has not stopped an opponent in nine years.

Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) paid tribute to Pacquiao but warned that his admiration for one of the world’s greatest pound-for-pound fighters would not stop him from taking his belt back home.

“He is a great champion but he still hasn’t faced ‘The Machine’,” Argentina’s Matthysse told a prefight press conference.

Knockout specialist Matthysse has finished 36 of his 39 wins inside the distance and took the vacant WBA belt after an eighthround stoppage of Thai Teerachai Sithmorseng in January.

South African Moruti Mthalane (35-2, 24 KOs) defends his International Boxing Federation flyweight title against the unbeaten Pakistani Muhammad Waseem (8-0, 6 KOs). – AFP