Matthysse's KO loss to Pacquiao sparmate irrelevant, says Buboy

KUALA LUMPUR – Manny Pacquiao’s head trainer and close friend Buboy Fernandez has downplayed Lucas Matthysse’s previous losses, saying their camp is wary of facing a rejuvenated opponent on Sunday.

Even Matthysse’s 2015 knockout loss to Viktor Postol — a former sparring partner of Pacquiao — can no longer be taken into account.

The reigning WBA welterweight champion, according to Fernandez, may have improved under the tutelage of new trainer Joel Diaz.

“Idedepende kasi natin yan sa igagalaw ni Matthysse, lalo na si Joel Diaz na ang trainer niya (We will base everything on how Matthysse fights on Sunday [not on how his previous fights turned out], especially that Joel Diaz is his trainer now),” Fernandez told Filipino sportswriters at Pacquiao’s media workout at Le Meridien here Wednesday.

Matthysse had been beaten four times in his career — by respected fighters Zab Judah, Devon Alexander, Danny Garcia and Postol — and the last one was the worst as the Ukrainian Postol knocked him out in the 10th round.

The 35-year-old Argentinean has since rebounded with knockout victories over Emmanuel Taylor and Tewa Kiram, the latter of which netted him the WBA strap.  And now he trains under Diaz, who worked with Timothy Bradley in the American’s first two bouts with Pacquiao.

But the fact that Matthysse has been defeated before should give Pacquiao a boost in confidence.

Regardless of Matthysse’s past setbacks, Fernandez said the defending champion will remain a mystery until fight day.

“Hindi natin alam kung ano ang strategy niya (We don’t know his strategy),” said Fernandez.

“Pero sa tingin ko sasagasa sila eh. Tingnan natin. (But I think he’ll fight coming forward. We’ll see)," he added.

Video by Philstar.com/Dino Maragay