| |
|
Duterte will be ringside in KL to watch Pacquiao fight Matthysse
By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Thu, 12 Jul 2018

Kuala Lumpur - Manny Pacquiao will have a very special spectator this Sunday when he battles WBA (World Boxing Association) welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse at the Axiata Arena.
The popular but controversial Philippine President Rodrigo ?Digong? Duterte will be watching Pacquiao challenge for another title to add to his collection of belts. The boxer is also an elected senator and a former congressman in their country and is a political ally of the president.
This was confirmed by Pacquiao himself during a media workout held yesterday at the Le Meridean hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
According to reports from several Philippine news outlets, Duterte will also be meeting with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after the bout.
On his part, Lucas Matthysse is undaunted that Duterte will be at ringside to support Pacquiao this Sunday.
?In that ring it will just be me and Manny, not the president,? Matthysse told the media during his workout last Wednesday.
This will be the first time that Duterte will be watching Pacquiao fight in the ring. The president is expected to fly to the Malaysian capital this weekend from Manila.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and @Freemazon910 on Twitter.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Dagestan rivalry set to ignite Moscow: Khalidov and Yallyev clash on stacked IBA PRO 19 card , Wed, 03 Jun 2026Deep Waters rules inaugural WR Bughouse Championship By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 02 Jun 2026HE TURKI ALALSHIKH: 'AJ vs PRENGA IN JEDDAH REINFORCES SAUDI ARABIA'S POSITION AS DESTINATION FOR WORLD'S LEADING EVENTS' , Tue, 02 Jun 2026ANTHONY JOSHUA VS KRISTIAN PRENGA TO TAKE PLACE IN JEDDAH ON JULY 25 – LIVE ON DAZN – AS HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF IN LONDON , Tue, 02 Jun 2026Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Gets a kick out of British sports fans , Tue, 02 Jun 2026GUSTAVO TRUJILLO CONTINUES HEAVYWEIGHT ASCENT WITH DEVASTATING FIRST-ROUND TKO , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Boxing Insider Promotions Brings Regional Card to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, June 13 , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Chess, in whatever form, is a great equalizer By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026UNBEATEN CRIZTIAN PITT LAURENTE RETURNS TO FACE JING AGUAN IN A LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT HEADLINING SANMAN 101 , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Lebosada, Sia rule DSA Open golf By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Davao Chess Eagles in FIDE World Team Rapid & Blitz in Hong Kong By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Pido retains crown, Pulleda wins By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Jun 2026Juarez defeats Valle by split decision to retain WBC belt in El Paso,Texas By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026Jose Sulaiman's 95th birthday is being celebrated with events around the world By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 31 May 2026Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan is now one of the IBF board of directors , Sun, 31 May 2026Cavite Inter-Town Chess Tournament gets underway By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 May 2026Lieutenant Delfin Boholst: Soldier, Boxing Coach, Mentor By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 May 2026O’Shaquie Foster vs Raymond Ford: Bad Blood Equals Good Fight By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 30 May 2026WBC Issues Rules Clarification for Designating David Benavidez Mandatory Challenger to Noel Mikaelian External Inbox Andre Courtemanche -- Big Media Buzz , Sat, 30 May 2026FOSTER VS. FORD – WEIGHTS AND THE FINAL WORD AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION , Sat, 30 May 2026AWE to Air Live the WBC World Title Rematch of Kevin Lerena v. Ryad Merhy this Saturday , Sat, 30 May 2026Juego Todo exists in two powerful dimensions By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026‘The Homecoming’ Postponed in Vancouver , Sat, 30 May 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo to Defend Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Titles Against the Philippines’ Joey Canoy , Sat, 30 May 2026Canoy now trains at MP Davao for Collazo's fight By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|