KUALA LUMPUR – The odds may be stacked against him but Lucas Matthysse likes his chances of pulling off a victory in his so-called ‘dream fight.’
The 35-year-old champion stakes his World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao, a legendary figure he idolized while learning the sport as a teenager in Argentina.
Matthysse recalled how he and compatriot, former world champion Marcus Maidana, grew up sharing the dream of someday fighting for a world boxing title.
And for the man they called ‘La Maquina,’ facing Pacquiao with no less than a championship at stake was part of that vision.
“Every time I saw him (on TV), I always dream of going up against a fighter like him,” he said as he trained for the last time on Friday prior to Sunday’s 12-round bout at the Axiata Arena.
“And now, here I am, ready to face Manny Pacquiao.”
Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) remains a 2-1 underdog against his renowned challenger, who will be gunning for his 60th victory in a career spanning more than two decades.
But the champion’s manager Mario Arano said Matthysse won’t yield the title belt just like that.
“It cost us 14 years of hard work for Lucas to become a world champion today,” he said of his protégé who began his career in 2004, by which time, Pacquiao was already a two-time world champion.
“I will tell you, he’s not going to give up his title.”
Golden Boy Promotions head Oscar dela Hoya is also not discounting a Matthysse upset.
“The fact that he wanted this fight, a dream fight for him, believe me, he will be in the best condition for this,” said boxing’s Golden Boy.
“This is an even fight, a dangerous but a winnable fight.”
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