MANILA, Philippines — Payag si Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach na isagupa si Manny Pacquiao kay Argentinean superstar Lucas Matthysse bago matapos ang taon.
At handa rin si Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez na plantsahin ang naturang bakbakan nina Matthysse at Pacquiao.
“Let’s do it, no problem. Have (Pacquiao’s promoter) Bob Arum call us, either Oscar (De La Hoya) or myself. But yeah, we can do it, we can definitely get a deal done,” wika ni Gomez sa BoxingScene.com.
Matapos umiskor ng eight round TKO (Technical Knockout) laban kay Tewa Kiram sa The Forum sa Los Angeles noong Linggo ay nagpahayag si Matthysse, inangkin ang 'regular' version ng World Boxing Association welterweight title, ng interes na sagupain si Pacquiao.
Ayon kay Roach, isa itong magandang laban sa pagitan ng dalawang mahuhusay na boksingero sa buong mundo.
“I think it's a great fight, two guys who are a little bit older and not as big of punchers as they once were but it's a very good action-packed fight,” ani Roach.
Umaasa rin si Matthysse (39-4-0, 36 KOs) na papayag si Pacquiao na harapin siya bago matapos ang taon.
“I always want to fight with the best. I’ve already said that I would like to do it again with Danny Garcia or a fight with Manny Pacquiao, and I hope that one of those fights will happen,” wika ni Matthysse, binigyan ng hero’s welcome sa Argentina.
Huling napanood si Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) noong Hulyo 2 kung saan siya natalo ni Jeff Horn via unanimous decision at naagawan ng bitbit na World Boxing Organization welterweight crown sa Brisbane, Australia.
Isa sa posibleng makatapat ng 39-anyos na si Pacquiao sa Abril ay ang 37-anyos na si dating Mexican world light welterweight titlist Mike Alvarado.