Matthysse arrives in Kuala Lumpur

Welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse arrived in Kuala Lumpur from Los Angeles yesterday noon with nothing else to worry about except facing Manny Pacquiao inside the ring.

Matthysse smiled as he rolled his own luggage at the airport, accompanied by his team members, his manager, Mario Arano, and Golden Boy PR director Ramiro Gonzalez.

According to Arnold Vegafria, who heads the sales and marketing of MP Promotions, the champion from Argentina has received the full payment of his purse.

Vegafria, who welcomed Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur, refused to divulge the amount although previous reports say the latter is getting $2 million to defend his WBA belt against Pacquiao.

“Everything is okay. Matthysse was paid in full before they left Los Angeles. They have the money in the bank,” Vegafria told The STAR from Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Matthysse was taken to the Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur, the fight’s official hotel. Vegafria said they have booked over 300 rooms in the hotel for this fight.

Pacquiao’s new business manager said there was no need to put the balance of Matthysse’s purse in an escrow account because they already have the money.

“If it was put in escrow then Matthysse would have to wait until after the fight to get his money,” said Vegafria as he shrugged off consistent reports that MP Promotions was having a hard time with the financial requirements for the July 15 card.

“Wala nang escrow-escrow pa,” he told The STAR, adding that Matthysse would not travel more than 12 hours all the way to KL if there were problems.

“There’s no problem with the financial aspect of the fight,” Vegafria said over the phone.

Pacquiao, who has not fought since July last year, is capping his training in General Santos City, and plans to fly to the Malaysian capital on Monday.