Ni Gilbert Espeña
DARATING ngayon sa bansa si WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse ng Argentina na desididong magwagi sa kanyang pinakamalaking laban kay eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao na makakaharap niya sa Hulyo 14 sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“I’m happy because the opportunity comes at a particular time in my life. I have no pressure or fear of losing, I have a lot of confidence in my conditions,” sabi ni Matthysse sa BoxingScene. com.
Tatay kay Karl Eldrew: 'Tahimik mong ipanalo mga pangarap mo, dito kami ng Mama mo!'
Nangako si Matthysse na patutulugin si Pacquiao tulad ng ginawa ni Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez noong Disyembre 8, 2012 sa Las Vegas, Nevada para tuluyan nang magretiro ang Pambansang Kamao.
“I am the champion and he chose me because he wants my belt, I accepted the fight because I want the glory, I win everything or I lose everything, it’s that simple,” diin ng Argentinian champion. “If I’m still in boxing, it’s because I want to fight with the best. In this division, the best ones are Danny García and Manny Pacquiao. Not everyone has the chance to fight with a world figure.”
Matagal nang gustong makaharap ni Matthyse si Pacquiao kaya kaagad nilang tinanggap ang laban ng ialok nitong hamunin sa Malaysia.
“Many may think that the economics and for them it weighs more than the sport,” ani Matthysse. “But when Mario (Arano), my promoter, told me that there was a chance to fight Pacquiao, I told him to do the impossible to get me the fight without asking how much they were going to pay me. I want sports glory and the happiness of my family.”
Hindi rin siya naniniwalang ‘matanda’ na si Pacquiao pero malaki ang sampalataya niyang tatalunin ang Pinoy boxer.
“For me, Manny Pacquiao is totally beatable just like any other boxer, I do not consider him to be an invincible guy that is not within my means,” diin ni Matthysse. “I don’t think age is a factor that benefits me too much. Even being a veteran, Pacquiao is still a very dangerous boxer. You will have to be there with your eyes wide open from the moment the bell rings.”
“With us having the same height, there will come a shock - because there I can get a lot of advantages because I have a heavier hand than him,” dagdag ni Matthysse. “I am convinced that it will not be my last fight. I have a lot of confidence to beat him and retire Pacquiao.”
May rekord si Matthysse na 39 panalo, 4 na talo na may 36 pagwawagi sa knockouts kumpara kay Pacquiao na may kartadang 59- 7-2 na may 38 panalo sa knockouts.
