It?s about five weeks to the showdown between Manny Pacquiao (59-7-2 with 38 KOs) and Lucas Matthysse (39-4 with 36 KOs) and things are getting more interesting, judging by the numerous videos of their current training and views from experts.
Their training footages posted in social media show both are putting in their 100-percent effort preparing for the fight, even if Freddie Roach is absent in Pacquiao?s training camp.
Meanwhile in Matthysse?s camp, Joel Diaz is bristling with confidence since he handled Timothy Bradley in the American?s two fights against Pacquiao. Bradley and Pacquiao split their two meetings, with the Filipino making a strong showing in their second bout.
Diaz believes he has identified Pacquiao?s weaknesses and his ward Matthysse has much more power and grit compared to Bradley. It?s like an army general now having at his disposal more powerful weapons that can mow down an enemy that he is already familiar with. That sounds downright scary.
So how will Pacquiao-Matthysse unfold?
While I still do not want to predict the outcome of the fight, all I can say is it will definitely be more exciting than Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr., not lopsided as Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto, and not short-lived like Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton. Let me explain.
Pacquiao-Mayweather proved to be an unexciting bout despite fans paying large sums of money to see the two juggernauts fight. At the end of the fight, many boxing fans felt they were robbed because Mayweather stuck to his game of countering Pacquiao all throughout the bout. Well, the good news here is Matthysse is not a counterpuncher but a methodical brawler who looks for opportunities to unload his bombs, even if he takes punishment in the process. So expect Pacquiao-Matthysse to be more exciting than Pacquiao-Mayweather.
Pacquiao-Cotto proved to be a lopsided bout as the Puerto Rican hit the deck twice before the fight was stopped in the last round. I believe Cotto?s psyche before the Pacquiao fight was partly weakened by his stoppage loss to Antonio Margarito, where he took a terrible beating before surrendering the fight. The good news is Matthysse has not yet suffered a crushing knockout loss and the Argentine is coming off two stoppage wins, bolstering his confidence.
Pacquiao-Hatton was a short-lived slugfest that the Filipino won in just two rounds. At the end of the fight, Hatton proved to be a slugger with very little defense and movement. And the bad news is Matthysse is no mindless slugger like Hatton. The Argentine also has good ring movement and picks his shots carefully, although he has a great right cross.
So it?s about five weeks to Pacquiao-Matthysse and fight fans better not miss the bout.
Predictions have been made for the fight with those leaning toward Pacquiao believing the Filipino?s having more experience at the elite level and better speed being his biggest advantages. Meanwhile, those who believe Matthysse can beat the Filipino see the Argentine as having the definitive edge in power.
I won?t make a prediction on the Pacquiao-Matthysse fight but one thing is for sure?the fight won?t be boring, will not be lopsided, and will not be short-lived but can end in a stoppage or knockout.
