Can Manny Pacquiao (59-7-2, 39 KO) capture yet another world title in his Hall-of-Fame career? He’ll have his latest chance on Saturday (Sunday in Asia) when he challenges WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (39-4, 36 KO) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the Axiata Arena.
Here are the 10 things you should know about Saturday’s card.
Viewing Info
Pacquiao-Matthysse will be streamed exclusively on ESPN+ beginning at 9pm ET. The main event is expected to get underway around 11:30 pm.
The Weigh-In Info
The only title at stake in this fight is Matthysse’s WBA belt. If Pacquiao wins, it will mark the fourth time he’s won a world title at welterweight.
The Odds
Pacquiao is the slight favorite, per Bovada. He is listed as a minus-210 favorite. Matthysse is a plus-170 underdog.
The Layoff
Pacquiao last fought in July 2017 when he lost the WBO welterweight title via controversial unanimous decision to Jeff Horn in the latter’s native Australia. The 378-day layoff is the longest of Pacquiao’s career. Matthysse’s last fight was in January when he earned a stoppage victory over Tewa Kiram to earn the WBA strap.
The Changes in Pacquiao’s Camp
Justin Fortune is still the strength and conditioning coach, but longtime trainer Freddie Roach is out. He’s been replaced by Buboy Fernandez and Pacquiao hired Nonito Donaire Sr. as his assistant trainer. Pacquiao reportedly wanted Donaire to help out with tactical planning for Matthysse.
Perhaps most importantly, Pacquiao is no longer under contract with Top Rank Boxing. In fact, Pacquiao’s own MP Promotions is co-promoting the fight with Golden Boy who handles Matthysse.
The Ages
The combined age of the combatants is 74. Pacquiao is 39 and turning 40 in December. Matthysse is also a bit past his physical prime at 35. He’ll be 36 in September. Both are still capable of performing at a high level, but this is far from a battle between two young up-and-comers.
Last Stoppage Win For Matthysse
INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 27: Lucas Matthysse (R) of Argentina throws a right hand at Tewa Kiram of Thailand during their bout at The Forum on January 27, 2018 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Matthysse’s TKO victory over Kiram added to the Argentinian’s impressive KO percentage. All but three of his professional wins have come by stoppage. He’ll undoubtedly be looking to add to that total on Saturday night.
Last Stoppage Win For Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (R) punches Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico during their WBO welterweight title fight on November 14, 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Pacquiao hasn’t won a fight via KO in almost 9 years. To be exact, his last stoppage win came over Miguel Cotto in November 2009. That’s a long time for any active fighter, let alone one who was once known for his vicious power.
The ESPN+ Effect
The bout is streamed behind a paywall, though it’s a relatively reasonable one. If you’re a combat sports fan, ESPN+ seems like a no-brainer with its blossoming boxing coverage and some exclusive UFC events beginning in 2019. To subscribe to ESPN, it’ll cost fans $4.99 per month. Is Pacquiao-Matthysse an event that will stimulate subscribers?
We’ll wait to see if we can obtain any numbers after the fight.
