Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse speaks during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on April 20, 2018, ahead of their world welterweight boxing championship bout in July. / AFP PHOTO / Mohd RASFAN
More than a week before Lucas Matthysse squares off against Manny Pacquiao, the WBA World welterweight champion had a simple message to the sport’s most illustrious champion.
“Manny Pacquiao, I want to defeat a legendary fighter like Manny,” said Matthysse Friday when he arrived in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his July 15 title defense against Pacquiao at Axiata Arena.
“This is not [Zab] Judah, [Devon] Alexander, [Victor] Postol, or [Danny] Garcia,” said Matthysse (39-4, 36KOs) referring to the four people who have beaten him in his professional career.
Matthysse arrived in Malaysia with manager Mario Arano, trainer Joel Diaz, Golden Boy Promotions PR man Ramiro Gonzalez, and three others who help in his training.
Of the four people who’ve beaten Matthysse, no one comes close to the notoriety of Pacquiao who has won 14 World titles in eight divisions—the most of any boxer in history.