MANILA, Philippines — Pareho sila ng istilo ni Manny Pacquiao, ngunit tiwala si Lucas Matthysse na tatalunin niya ang Filipino world eight-division champion sa Hulyo 15 sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“I really like his style. We have the same height, he is a fighter who comes forward and who likes to attack like me, so that is going to be good for my way of boxing,” ani Matthysse kay Pacquiao.
Itataya ng 35-anyos na si Matthysse (39-4-0, 36 KOs) ang kanyang suot na World Boxing Association welterweight belt laban sa 39-anyos na si Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs).
Ayon kay Matthysse, hindi na bago ang pagsagupa niya sa isang kaliweteng boksingero.
“I have already faced left-handed fighters and it did not create any problems for me,” sabi ng pambato ng Argentina.
Huling lumaban si Pacquiao noong Hulyo kung saan natalo siya kay Jeff Horn at naisuko ang World Boxing Organization welterweight title via unanimous decision sa Brisbane, Australia.
Sa kanyang obserbasyon sa mga laban ni Pacquiao ay wala na kay ‘Pacman’ ang lakas at bilis nito.
“Pacquiao has had a lot of hard fights, and in the last few it was evident that he gets hit more often and that he does not have the same speed and explosiveness as before,” ani Matthysse. “Anyway, he's still a boxing legend and that's a danger.”
Sa paghahamon kay Matthysse ay hindi na kinuha ni Pacquiao ang serbisyo ni longtime trainer Freddie Roach, naging trainer niya simula noong 2001, at ipinalit ang kababata niyang si Buboy Fernandez.
“If I beat Pacquiao, this will not change my way of living. I continue to share things with the family, being at home with my children, roasting, getting together with everyone in my circle as many times as I can. I handle myself like anyone else," ani Matthysse.
Si Matthysse ay sinasanay ngayon ni Joel Diaz, dating trainer ni Timothy Bradley, Jr.