Pacquiao predicts action-filled bout with Matthysse

FILIPINO boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said yesterday he is prepared for an action-packed fight against aggressive Argentinian Lucas Matthysse in Sunday’s world title bout that could put his illustrious career at stake.

Pacquiao, who turns 40 in December, returns to the ring a year after losing his World Boxing Organization welterweight title in a shock defeat to Australia’s Jeff Horn in Brisbane.

Pacquiao said he chose to fight Matthysse, the current World Boxing Association welterweight champion, because the Argentinian is aggressive and they could both provide “a lot of action” in the ring.

“It’s going to be a good fight,” Pacquiao said at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur. “I don’t care if he has 36 knockouts... it’s about your talent and skill inside the ring. Let’s see on Sunday who will be the best.”

“Pacman” Pacquiao, 39, has won 59 times, including 38 by knockout, and lost seven times (three by KO) along with two draws. Matthysse, 35, has 39 wins — 36 by KO — and four losses, one of them by KO.

It will be the first time since 2001 that Pacquiao is fighting without longtime trainer Freddie Roach, who was dropped in the run-up to the Malaysian fight and replaced with former assistant coach and friend Buboy Fernandez.

Matthysse told

the news conference he is determined to defend his title and isn’t concerned that it could end Pacquiao’s career if the Filipino loses. He said it has been his dream since young to fight Pacquiao, an 11-time world champion across eight divisions.

“He’s a great champion but he hasn’t faced the ‘great machine’, Lucas Matthysse,” he said, referring to his moniker. “If he decides to retire, that’s his decision. I’m here to defend my title.”

Matthysse may be the underdog but his trainer Joel Diaz said “nothing is impossible”.

Matthysse “is not here to collect a pay check. He is here to bring back his title to his country and his people”, Diaz said.

With both boxers beyond their prime, Diaz has previously predicted a “50/50” chance of winning for either but he said he believed Matthysse is more focused while Pacquiao has other distractions outside boxing that could be disadvantage him.