Pacquiao vs Matthysse confirmed for July 8th in Malaysia.

Manny Pacquiao is going to fight in Malaysia after all. A verbal agreement has been reached to match the future hall of fame against Lucas Matthysse on July 8 in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, sources with knowledge of the deal told THE RING. Pacquiao contended he was a promotional free agent, but in the end, it’s likely Top Rank will handle distribution of the fight in America on ESPN. Matthysse is the WBA’s secondary champion, and his title will be on the line. The fight is set to take place on Sunday morning in Malaysia for a primetime U.S. telecast on Saturday night, July 7. MP Promotions, Pacquiao’s company, will be the lead promoter, as the Filipino senator announced over the weekend. Golden Boy Promotions, which handle Matthysse, would be involved as well. The 147-pound bout was originally slated for June 24, but after much deliberation over Pacquiao’s contract the fight was moved two weeks. “ is invited and there’s no problem. I think after my fight with Matthysse, we will talk regarding the possible Pacquiao- Lomachenko fight in the future,” Pacquiao told reporters on Sunday in Manilla. “ … That is a good fight because he is a champion and I’ll be challenged to become a champion again. At the same time, I don’t want the people to say that’s just a tune-up fight.” Pacquiao, the only eight-division titleholder in boxing history, was offered a fight against Mike Alvarado on the Terence Crawford-Jeff Horn undercard on April 14 in Las Vegas, but the 39-year-old declined. Pacquiao’s media manager, Aquiles Zonio, told THE RING in February that the fighter was insulted to be offered an undercard slot, but Arum later said the matchup was off due to his issues with the IRS. Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 knockouts) hasn’t competed since July when he lost his title to Jeff Horn via decision in Australia. Even though it was controversial, with most observervers believing Pacquiao deserved the nod, he was a shell of his former self. Matthysse, too, appears to be well past his best days. He grabbed the title from Thai fighter Tewa Kiram in January, but the 35-year-old Argentine was sluggish before the eighth-round stoppage. “I like aggressive fighting style,” Pacquiao, THE RING’s No. 6 welterweight, said earlier this month. “That’s what I want, to entertain the boxing fans. Besides, Matthysse is not a dirty fighter and I highly respect him for that.” Who will train Pacquiao for the fight is another matter. His longtime trainer, Freddie Roach, has been mum when asked if he’ll be in Pacquiao’s corner. Whoever trains Pacquiao, it will be his first fight in Asia since he outpointed Chris Algieri in Macau in 2014. https://www.r1ngtv.com/532065-manny-pacquiao-lucas-matthysse-agree-fight-july-8-malaysia/

Comments (20)

none of those were title fights. judah,garcia,postol were Judah was some regional whatever title not a world title. Peterson was the 140-lbs champ but they made the fight for 141 lbs catchweight. Doesn't really make the match insignificant.

8y ago

moochi

Come on Pac. Surely you don't need the money. Who's on the undercard? RJJ jr ?

8y ago

The_Big_Dunn

Until Bob says yes, Manny ain’t doin sh-t.

8y ago

lex_fugitive

Arum said no, Pac said yes, Arum said ok but you gotta pay me too, Pac said deal. And now we get a fight, no one really cares about. Yippee.

8y ago

_Maxi

I wonder what time it would be shown at?? Sounds like free on ESPN? ...yes..please Read the article please... Pacquiao contended he was a promotional free agent, but in the end, it’s likely Top Rank will handle distribution of the fight in America on ESPN. Matthysse is the WBA’s secondary champion, and his title will be on the line. The fight is set to take place on Sunday morning in Malaysia for a primetime U.S. telecast on Saturday night, July 7.

8y ago

BLASTER1

Good for Manny. Looking forward to the battle of the dinosaurs. Does this mean whoever looses will hang up the gloves for good?.

8y ago

Mexican_Puppet

Holy **** you just don't stop. It's always a reason when the Mexican does it but not the other way. I have no national or racial bias in Boxing you do that's why I'm not considered a joke on this forum and you are and it's why I'm able to talk Boxing as an adult and your not. It's why I enjoy the whole sport and you just hate most of the sport and it's fighters. Three guys failed to make weight. They all cheated. The two that have also failed tests for PEDS (Salido and Nery) look EVEN MORE intentional as it's in their nature to cheat. A rational human could see that but Quigg isn't excused either. Salido positive test was 10 years before that fight, why say something about that? Salido looked like sh.it in stamina and then he fought in 130 pounds. Quigg has a little time in 126. He did it intentionally ... But you were not saying anything. You are a joke.

8y ago

Mexican_Puppet

none of those were title fights. judah,garcia,postol were Don't waste your time, this jerk always says something stupid to defend his point. And Judah was fking old

8y ago

bluebeam

ALL his important fights would suggest he lost to Provodnikov, Peterson and Soto. He won those. none of those were title fights. judah,garcia,postol were

8y ago

STREET_CLEANER

This is far better than the one Alvarado that TR wanted to do

8y ago

chrisJS

Blah blah blah, in the three cases you were crying like a girl only in the cases of Mexicans... The worst case was Quigg because he did it with a plan, intentionally like Frampton said, Salido was in a zombie mode and Nery did what Yamanaka demanded. Period. I was criticizing Nery but they the kid did the correct and that's the reason why Yamanaka.accepted the fight. Holy **** you just don't stop. It's always a reason when the Mexican does it but not the other way. I have no national or racial bias in Boxing you do that's why I'm not considered a joke on this forum and you are and it's why I'm able to talk Boxing as an adult and your not. It's why I enjoy the whole sport and you just hate most of the sport and it's fighters. Three guys failed to make weight. They all cheated. The two that have also failed tests for PEDS (Salido and Nery) look EVEN MORE intentional as it's in their nature to cheat. A rational human could see that but Quigg isn't excused either.

8y ago

Mexican_Puppet

Jesus. You are boring and annoying. No I f@cking didn't! I said he cheated but what I said was that it's funny because you will say he's a cheat after defending Salido's failure to make weight and refusal to re-hydrate and then Nery's not making weight and I was right. Three dudes didn't make weight and the two Mexicans were fine the non Mexican was a cheating scumbag. I didn't "cry" but it was hard to forgive Nery especially given he failed a test for PEDs before that. His character was questionable and he's rightly banned and ridiculed by all rationale Boxing fans. You are so easy to read. Like I said you debate Boxing like you are 12 years old. Please tell me you aren't older than say 16? Blah blah blah, in the three cases you were crying like a girl only in the cases of Mexicans... The worst case was Quigg because he did it with a plan, intentionally like Frampton said, Salido was in a zombie mode and Nery did what Yamanaka demanded. Period. I was criticizing Nery but they the kid did the correct and that's the reason why Yamanaka.accepted the fight.

8y ago

Letmaku

P4P No JuiceMexicanMeat 😇

8y ago

chrisJS

False, with Nery you were crying like a girl, and in some moments you were defending Quigg. You are incongruent like I showed Yeah, Nery was drained and had a control in rehydration, in the ring bothg fighters were in the same.weight. Bye son. Jesus. You are boring and annoying. No I f@cking didn't! I said he cheated but what I said was that it's funny because you will say he's a cheat after defending Salido's failure to make weight and refusal to re-hydrate and then Nery's not making weight and I was right. Three dudes didn't make weight and the two Mexicans were fine the non Mexican was a cheating scumbag. I didn't "cry" but it was hard to forgive Nery especially given he failed a test for PEDs before that. His character was questionable and he's rightly banned and ridiculed by all rationale Boxing fans. You are so easy to read. Like I said you debate Boxing like you are 12 years old. Please tell me you aren't older than say 16?

8y ago

Mexican_Puppet

You lying fu@kin f@gg c1nt I blasted Quigg and called him a cheater!!! Just as I did Nery. See you are such a weasel you lie for god knows what reason to twist things in your favor. You are pathetic and the joke of the board. Lol @ false overweight! False, with Nery you were crying like a girl, and in some moments you were defending Quigg. You are incongruent like I showed Yeah, Nery was drained and had a control in rehydration, in the ring bothg fighters were in the same.weight. Bye son.

8y ago

chrisJS

False, Margarito never had the hype that Matthysse had, and the other guy was a prospect. Campas never had the big mouth that Matthysse has and was not a sore loser like the argie The thing is that you are fu.cking incongruent and you only open you dirty mouth with some cases. For example you were crying about the false overweight that Nery had against Yamanaka but then you were defending ****ing cheater of Quigg You are a bad joke You lying fu@kin f@gg c1nt I blasted Quigg and called him a cheater!!! Just as I did Nery. See you are such a weasel you lie for god knows what reason to twist things in your favor. You are pathetic and the joke of the board. Lol @ false overweight!

8y ago

Mexican_Puppet

Do you want an entire biography of a fighter every single time somebody posts? That's stupid but then again you are stupid. Why don't you give a breakdown of every fighters entire career the good, bad and ugly every time you post instead of just spewing you hateful or ball sucking agendas? People said Margarito was a monster why you don't talk about that!! People think Bojardo was great why you don't talk about that!! People said Campas was going to be the next great thing why you don't talk about that!!! See how dumb that is? Anyway peace out. Leave the boxing talk to the adults, kid. False, Margarito never had the hype that Matthysse had, and the other guy was a prospect. Campas never had the big mouth that Matthysse has and was not a sore loser like the argie The thing is that you are fu.cking incongruent and you only open you dirty mouth with some cases. For example you were crying about the false overweight that Nery had against Yamanaka but then you were defending ****ing cheater of Quigg You are a bad joke

8y ago

chrisJS

The wrong with that is that the media, fans and himself, were claiming this guy was a monster and he was not, period. He lost by TKO against ****ing Postol hahaha you missed that. Ok, he lost against the only 2 rivals of elite in his resume. Happy? My balls, I said what I don't like.this bum. He has a big mouth and is a sore loser Why you don't talk about that? Do you need that I refresh your memory quoting the words of Matthyaae? Do you want an entire biography of a fighter every single time somebody posts? That's stupid but then again you are stupid. Why don't you give a breakdown of every fighters entire career the good, bad and ugly every time you post instead of just spewing you hateful or ball sucking agendas? People said Margarito was a monster why you don't talk about that!! People think Bojardo was great why you don't talk about that!! People said Campas was going to be the next great thing why you don't talk about that!!! See how dumb that is? Anyway peace out. Leave the boxing talk to the adults, kid.

8y ago

Mexican_Puppet

He lost to Garcia who is a good fighter himself. What's wrong with what? We've established it doesn't matter what you retroactively say THOSE THREE FIGHTS WERE IMPORTANT which kills your claim he lost ALL his important fights. Provodnikov and Peterson were considered almost pick-em (actually I think the Peterson fight was actual evens so no he wasn't the clear favorite). It's clear when you like a fighter you will always twist in their favor and they can't do no wrong and then if you dislike a fighter you twist against them and they can't do right. You don't know **** about Boxing and you debate it like your 12 years old. Grow up kid. The wrong with that is that the media, fans and himself, were claiming this guy was a monster and he was not, period. He lost by TKO against ****ing Postol hahaha you missed that. Ok, he lost against the only 2 rivals of elite in his resume. Happy? My balls, I said what I don't like.this bum. He has a big mouth and is a sore loser Why you don't talk about that? Do you need that I refresh your memory quoting the words of Matthyaae?

8y ago

chrisJS

Man, you don't know about boxing. It doesn't matter what time you have without a lost, Cuenca had like 20 years without a lost and was a shi.tty fighter. Soto always fought with bums in 140. It was not a good win. In those fights Lucas was the favorite to win. And were B classes rivals, like him. I don't respect Lucas because he has a big mouth. He said before the fight vs Danny "First Danny and then Floyd", he was a sore loser vs Danny blaming his eye. Why you don't say anything about this? He lost to Garcia who is a good fighter himself. What's wrong with what? He wanted to fight the opponent that would guarantee his highest purse. Oh my god what a POS! We've established it doesn't matter what you retroactively say THOSE THREE FIGHTS WERE IMPORTANT which kills your claim he lost ALL his important fights. Provodnikov and Peterson were considered almost pick-em (actually I think the Peterson fight was actual evens so no he wasn't the clear favorite). Nobody said Soto was at his best but you've said weight doesn't matter and Soto was a good champion at 135 and Lucas ****ed him up bad. It's clear when you like a fighter you will always twist in their favor and they can't do no wrong and then if you dislike a fighter you twist against them and they can't do right. You don't know **** about Boxing and you debate it like your 12 years old. Grow up kid.

8y ago