KUALA LUMPUR – How ironic Manny Pacquiao was rooting for Lionel Messi and Argentina to win the World Cup.
“My team is already out, my team is Argentina,” said the revered Filipino boxer when asked on Wednesday what team he is rooting for to win the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world.
“Yeah, I love Messi. That’s my team (Argentina) since before. I’ve been watching the World Cup before.”
Five days from now, Pacquiao will have to set aside his fondness for Messi and Co. as he faces Argentina's Lucas Matthysse, whose World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown will be on the line in the fight at the 16,000-seat Axiata Arena here.
Certainly, there would be no love in the air between the two fighters.
Matthysse is seeking to bring with him back home the title belt he’ll be defending for the first time, while Pacquiao is hoping to register his 60th career win and claim another world crown five months before he turns 40.
“I want to make sure to throw a lot of left and right combination,” said Pacquiao during the press preview held at the Pop-Up gym of the Le Meridien Hotel for his Sunday title fight.
“They can think whatever they want. We got a great preparation, he’s here with his belt and he’s taking it back home with him,” Matthysse trainer Joel Diaz.
The bout is the first major boxing event in Malaysia – a known football country - since 1975 when the late great Muhammad Ali defended his world heavyweight title against Joe Bugner.
Too bad, it clashes head-on with the ongoing World Cup in Russia, whose championship game will also be held on Sunday.
Pacquiao, who’s promoting his fight for the very first time under his own MP Promotions, sees no problem with that.
“It’s not bad timing because the time (zone is different),” said the Filipino ring legend, who’s also a senator.
“I’m also watching the World Cup and supporting some teams and I’m excited to watch them,” added Pacquiao. “This promotion is not competing with them. We are trying to promote boxing in Asia and bring the fights here.”
France, which booted out Argentina (4-3) in the Round of 16, is already in the final after beating Belgium in the semifinals Wednesday morning, 1-0. It faces the winner of the other semis pairing between England and Croatia for all the marbles.
And Pacquiao’s pick?
“It’s good (if) France and Croatia will fight for the championship,” he said. “I think I’ll go with Croatia.”
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