Kampo ni Matthysse may takot pa rin kay Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines — Hindi porke 39-anyos na at nalalapit na sa kanyang pagreretiro ay dapat nang balewalain ang lakas at bilis ni Manny Pacquiao.

Ito mismo ang pahayag ni Joel Diaz, ang chief trainer ni world welterweight king Lucas Matthysse sa Filipino world eight-division champion.

“With Manny Pacquiao, you must have good timing,” wika ni Diaz. “Pacquiao is a fighter who is very intense. Some people don’t see it but Manny Pacquiao can tire you out psychologically besides physically because you can never time him when he comes in.”

Si Diaz ang umagapay kay dating World Boxing Organization welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley, Jr. sa dalawa sa tatlong laban ng retiradong American fighter kontra kay Pacquiao.

Ngunit matanda na at nabawasan na ngayon ang lakas at bilis ni Pacquiao.

“I’ve seen Manny Pacquiao ten years ago, five years ago and two months ago. He’s made some changes but he’s not the young Manny Pacquiao that had the power. When was the last time he knocked someone out? It’s been a while,” ani Diaz.

Target ni Pacquiao (59-7-2, 39 KOs) na maagaw kay Matthysse (39-4-0, 36 KOs) para sa suot na World Boxing Association welterweight crown ng Argentinian sa Hulyo 15 sa Axiata Arena sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ito ang unang pag-akyat ni Pacquiao sa boxing ring matapos mabigo kay Jeff Horn via unanimous decision at maagawan ng hawak na World Boxing Organization welterweight title noong Hulyo ng 2017 sa Brisbane, Australia.

Ang nasabing korona ay inagaw naman ni Terence Crawford kay Horn via ninth-round TKO victory noong Linggo.

“I think if Lucas follows the plan the way we are working on and catches Pacquiao in an exchange, we will hurt him,” ani Diaz. “The plan is this – going to the Philippines and going the distance with Manny we’re not going to win. So we’re going for all the marbles. We have to go for the knockout.”