Manny Pacquiao?s best days may be behind him but the Filipino boxing icon is convinced he still has a lot left in him to regain world champion status.
Pacquiao, who turns 40 this year, is challenging Argentine champion Lucas Matthysse for the WBA welterweight title on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in a fight where he is out to make a statement.
?That?s what I?m trying to prove this July 15. I really believe that I?m still there,? Pacquiao told local and foreign reporters at City of Dreams Manila, the first of two stops for ?The Fight of Champions? press tour.
Matthysse?s camp, however, feels the opposite.
?This is Matthysse?s time. Manny Pacquiao?s time is over,? Mario Arana, Matthysse?s manager, said through an interpreter.
During Pacquiao?s heyday, he dominated one weight class after another and became boxing?s only eight-division champion. But it?s been nine years since he delivered a knockout when he stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round.
?Manny?s won so manny titles. I only won one title and I?m not gonna give it up. He?s had a great history in boxing but my time is now,? Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) said.
Both camps recognized the challenge that lies ahead.
Pacquiao hasn?t fought since yielding the WBO welterweight belt to Jeff Horn in a highly-disputed decision in July of last year and he believes he took a big risk in choosing Matthysse as his opponent for his ring return.
?We chose to pick Matthysse because I believe Matthysse has the guts and he?s a tough opponent and he can create more action than my previous fights,? said Pacquiao, who is also the promoter of the fight through MP Promotions. ?I guarantee that thebpeople will enjoy the fight because his style and my style are almost similar. We don?t want to underestimate him.?
?Manny Pacquiao didn?t want to take a tuneup fight for his comeback,? said Michael Koncz, Pacquaio?s longtime adviser. ?This is a real fight.?
