KUALA LUMPUR – Is Lucas Matthysse playing mind games or is there something wrong?
The Argentinian fighter refused to grant interviews to any member of media until the official press conference for his world welterweight title match against Filipino Manny Pacquiao this Sunday.
Matthysse got a warm welcome together with Pacquiao during their arrival on Tuesday morning. But saved for a series of photo ops and pictorials, none has been heard from the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) champion.
His training at the basement of the Le Meridien that followed the arrival ceremony was declared off limits to media as rumors spread that the 35-year-old Argentinian is nowhere near near the 147-pound limit.
But Golden Boy Promotions PR director Ramiro Gonzalez denied speculations and said the champion is not on a strict diet with five days left before the 12-round bout at the Axiata Arena.
“No diet, eating very healthy,” said Gonzalez in a bulletin he provided to mediamen.
“He will keep working to maintain the weight,” added the long-time Golden Boy press officer, who even sent a video of the 35-year-old champion working on the punching bag shortly after the grand arrival.
Pacquiao and Matthysse are scheduled to do a press preview on Wednesday, followed by the final press conference the next day.
“Please help your colleagues with this information because Lucas will not talk until the press conference,” said Gonzalez.
Matthysse (39-4-1, 36 KOs) is making the first defense of the title belt he won with an eight-round demolition of Tewa Kiram of Thailand last January.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
