The latest on the “Fight of Champions” in Kuala Lumpur says Justin Fortune has vowed to make Manny Pacquiao score a big win over WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina on July 15.
Veteran sportswriter Eddie Alinea, Team Pacquiao confidante, said Fortune, expert conditioning coach, has assured there would be no problem preparing Pacquiao to beat Matthysse.
“A puncher, always a puncher. Manny is still very quick with his pair of hands and feet, they’ll be his main weapons,” Fortune told Alinea.
“It will be a tough fight,” Fortune added, “but Manny will be the stronger, quicker, the better fighter.”
Initial odds favored Pacquiao over Matthysse, although the eight-division world champion from the Philippines continued to maintain he would be the underdog against the 35-year-old Argentine champion also known as El Maquina.
Before Fortune’s arrival last Friday, Pacquiao boyhood ally Buboy Fernandez, assigned to take over as trainer, offered pointers on how he planned to train and prepare Pacquiao.
There was mention of making Pacquiao, 39, to develop greater stamina and speed.
It’s a terrific team-up, considering that Fortune had served as conditioning coach in practically all the Pacquiao fights that Hall-of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach handled.
Two heads are better than one, Fortune and Buboy Fernandez working together in Pacquiao’s corner could really do wonders for Manny’s world title challenge in July.
Of course, this is the first time Fortune and Fernandez will be working in strict tandem.
In Pacquiao’s last fight in Brisbane on July 2, 2017, Fernandez worked the Philippine corner in tandem with Freddie Roach.
It’s, of course, no secret that chaos and confusion, mainly during the rugged and suspenseful finishing rounds, were often present in Pacquiao’s corner during the championship.
There were conflicting orders on what Pacquiao should do: whether to go for a knockout or box competently and sure.
In fact, veteran cutman Miguel Diaz would later complain that he could not even make his way to the wounded and bloodied Pacquiao during the crucial breaks.
Let’s hope and pray there would be unity and composure in the Philippine corner come July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.
Hail, Sen. Manny Pacquiao. Win it BIG for us, Sir!