Sparring partner expects to see ‘vintage’ Pacquiao vs Matthysse

Pacquiao’s sparring partner George Kambosos Jr. Photo from Mark Giongco

KUALA LUMPUR — George Kambosos Jr. said the old, deadly version of Manny Pacquiao will finally show up against Lucas Matthysse on July 15.

Kambosos had seen it first hand after sparring with Pacquiao for at least 50 rounds throughout the Filipino ring icon’s training camp for his duel with Matthysse.

“Come Sunday you’ll see a vintage Manny Pacquiao,” Kambosos said on Wednesday. “Manny sparred for about 100 rounds. We trained smart and we trained hard so he’s ready to go.”

Pacquiao hasn’t fought since yielding the WBO welterweight title to Jeff Horn in a controversial decision a year ago in Brisbane, Australia.

Kambosos, whose first call-up to join Pacquiao’s camp as a sparring partner was last year when he helped the eight-division champion prepare for the Horn fight, is featured in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Matthysse headliner.

The 25-year-old Australian lightweight contender is facing a Filipino in JR Magboo in an eight-rounder in a bout that he believes won’t last long.

“I’m knocking this guy out with bad intentions,” Kambosos told Filipino reporters.