Pacquiao vs Matthysse: ‘It’s going to be good’

Boxing great Manny Pacquiao is aiming for his ninth title, while WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse is intent on defeating the 'legend'.

Reuters pic

PETALING JAYA: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is so focused on training for his upcoming title fight with Lucas Matthysse that his business manager hasn’t seen him for almost two months.

In an interview with FMT, MP Promotions head of business Arnold Vegafria said the “Pacman” was coming to Kuala Lumpur with only one thing on his mind: winning his ninth title.

“This fight is very important to him. It’s going to be a good fight because Matthysse is a very aggressive fighter and a World Boxing Association (WBA) champion,” he said.

The “Fight of Champions” at the Axiata Arena on July 15 will see 39-year-old Pacquiao taking on Matthysse, 35, in the biggest boxing match in Malaysia since Muhammad Ali went toe-to-toe with Joe Bugner in 1975.

Pacquiao, who is also a Filipino senator, is the only eight-division world champion in boxing history. Argentine Matthysse meanwhile is the reigning WBA welterweight champion.

This will be the first title defence for Matthysse, who won by knocking out Thai boxer Tewa Kiram in January.

Matthysse is already in Kuala Lumpur, with boxingscene.com reporting that he hit the gym shortly after landing from an 18-hour flight.

ABS-CBN meanwhile reported that Pacquiao, who arrives in Kuala Lumpur today, was training in General Santos City in the Philippines. -FMT