GENERAL SANTOS CITY–Ring warriors Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse
stepped up their respective training sessions a notch higher as
preparations for “Fight of Champions” entered its hardest stages this
week.
Pacquiao is all business these days as he is focusing on the most
challenging fight of his career. He sparred for 10 rounds Thursday
afternoon and gave out a big smile to his supporters, saying, “it’s
good to be back.”
So inspired is Pacquiao that he is concentrating on just winning the
fight that he wants most. He delegated management of MP Promotions,
the lead promoter of his July 15 (July 14 in the US) battle at the
Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to his trusted lieutenants.
Matthysse, the welterweight champion who vowed to defend with his life
and bring back to his country Argentina the WBA crown that he won
early this year, is also as determined to retire the only
eight-division and 10-time champion in boxing history.
Pacquiao’s sparring will reach the full 12 rounds next week even as
Matthysse’s trainer Joel Diaz has laid out an elaborate game-plan to
score a win for his dangerous pupil, a boxer who has knocked out 36 of
the 39 opponents he has faced in the past.
“As far as I am concerned, everything is fine,” said Pacquiao,
responding to rumors that the fight is headed to a postponement or
even cancellation. “Lucas Matthysse and I are getting ready to give
the fans their money’s worth and July 15 will be huge for boxing in
Malaysia.”
Pacquiao assigned a team to take care of business and logistics as he
concentrated in training alone.
Marketing and sales head Arnold Vegafria echoed Pacquiao’s sentiments.
Vegafria, who was monitoring news online on a plane heading back to
the Philippines from New York City, said that all concerned decision
makers were in agreement with each other.
“Everyone is on board. Everyone understands the situation and the
fight is going as planned,” said Vegafria.
Aside from the Pacquiao Vs Matthysse championship, three more world
title fights are in store for hardcore boxing fans including the World
Boxing Association featherweight bout between Edivaldo Ortega of
Mexico, (26-1-1, 12 KOs) and Jhack Tepora of the Philippines (21-0, 16
KOs).
Chinese amateur sensation and Olympian Lu Bin will challenge Carlos
Canizales of Venezuela, the WBA light flyweight champion (20-0-1).
Another world championship pits IBF flyweight title holder Moruti
Mthalane of South Africa and Muhammad Waseem of Pakistan.
