Matthysse darating sa Pinas para makaharap si Pacquiao
MANNY PACQUIAO
DARATING sa Pilipinas si World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Lucas Martin Matthysse ng Argentina ngayong Abril 18 para pormal na tanggapin ang hamon ni multi-division champion Manny Pacquiao sa City of Dreams Grand Ballroom.
Nagpahayag ng kasiyahan si Pacquiao matapos na ang kanyang kumpanya na MP Promotions ay makumpleto ang preparasyon para sa two-city press conference at media tour na magtatapos sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia sa Abril 20.
Tinaguriang “Fight of Champions,” ang mega-fight ang magsisilbing pagpapakilala kay Pacquiao bilang fight promoter sa laban na gaganapin sa Axiata Arena sa Kuala Lumpur at katatampukan ng tatlong iba pang world title fight sa undercard.
“It is all systems go for the Pacquiao vs Matthysse fight,” sabi ni Pacquiao, na umaasa na matatapatan o kung hindi man ay inaasahang malagpasan ang naging engrandeng laban nina Muhammad Ali at Joe Bugner na ginanap din sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia noong Hulyo 1975.
“We have assembled the biggest fight card Malaysia has been waiting for in the last 43 years since Ali-Bugner,” sabi pa ni Pacquiao.
Ang 36-anyos na world champion na si Matthysse, na may 36 knockout mula sa 39 panalo kontra apat na talo, ay nagsimula nang mag-ensayo sa ilalim ni Joel Diaz. Si Diaz ay siya ring nag-ensayo kay Timothy Bradley, na dalawang beses nakaharap noon si Pacquiao, na may ring record na 59-7-2 at 38 KOs.
“This is the fight I have always wanted. The opportunity to fight a future Hall of Famer such as Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao inspires me to work harder than ever to earn a victory for my fans. I know that it will not be easy. But I will defend my title with honor and represent my country Argentina with pride,” sabi naman ni Matthysse.
Nakatakda ring salubungin ni Pacquiao si Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar Dela Hoya, ang promoter ni Matthysse.
“This early, we would like to thank the people who have made this event happen and I thank all boxing fans for their support,” dagdag pa ni Pacquiao.
Makakasama ni Pacquiao ang kanyang bagong promotions team pati na rin ang kanyang mga trainer na sina Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez at Raides “Nonoy” Neri.
Naikasa ni Pacquiao ang laban kay Matthysse matapos na tanggihan ang alok na lumaban bilang undercard ng Jeff Horn-Terence Crawford title fight sa Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
“This is going to be a tough fight. Matthysse is also a knockout artist. But I’m excited to fight and be a world champion again,” sabi ni Pacquiao, na nagwagi ng major world title sa pitong weight division.
“I’m the underdog in this fight but I’m used to it. It serves as a big motivation for me to train and fight hard to win the crown.”
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