A fight made for TV

Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao (R) fights Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse during their world welterweight boxing championship bout at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on July 15, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Mohd RASFAN

There were five fighters mentioned as possible opponents after Manny Pacquiao’s knockout win over Lucas Matthysse. Conditioning coach Justin Fortune, however, suggested not a particular opponent but a certain style.

He said the fight should be “made for TV.”

Contemplating on a return bout with Australian flash-in-the-pan Jeff Horn and a real megafight against the now-retired Floyd Mayweather, Fortune felt it would be best to find a foe that will bring out Pacquiao’s greatest attributes—Like what the Argentine slugger Matthysse did.

A slugger is ideal foe

“He’s a puncher, he’s a come forward guy, punch, punch, punch,” said Fortune of the Argentine, who fell thrice in losing to Pacquiao via a seventh round technical knockout as Pacquiao claimed his WBA welterweight title last Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.

“But he was good. It was a good TV fight,” quipped Fortune.

He suggested Amir Khan, Pacquiao’s former sparring partner when they were both under Freddie Roach, in a fight that could be held in Wembley and watched by Britons who fancy professional boxers a lot more compared to the Malaysians.

Crawford or Lomachenko

Two more names, WBO belt holder and current pound-for-pound champ Terence Crawford, and Olympic champ Vasyl Lomachenko also came up, and they both happen to be under Top Rank, Pacquiao’s former promotional outfit.

Already, Top Rank chair Bob Arum claimed he will talk with the Filipino boxing legend regarding a possible fight with either Crawford or Lomachenko.

“I have to speak with him (Pacquiao) and see what he wants to do,” Arum told boxingscene.com.

Arum, who for the first time in 12 years was not directly involved with Pacquiao, said he was impressed with what he saw from halfway across the globe.

Tax issues a problem

“I thought he looked terrific. This is the way he should fight. He’s been very, very tentative (in his previous fights). Matthysse didn’t put up much of a fight but he was the old Manny as far as how he was moving and hitting from different angles,” Arum was quoted as saying.

A fight with either Crawford or Lomachenko is expected to be held in the United States to amplify its viability, something that would only be hindered by Pacquiao’s reported tax issues there.

But Arum, a tax lawyer himself, assured that he is doing something about it “as we speak.”