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Questions abounded about what Manny Pacquiao had left.
After all, the Filipino legend, winner of the world titles in a boxing record eight weight divisions and one of the greatest fighters in history, is now 39 and has been a professional fighter since 23 years. He also experienced a one – year layoff, a controversial defeat and a coaching change when he returned to the ring on Sunday to challenge Lucas Matthysse for his super welterweight title.
But any doubt that Pacquiao still has something to offer was halted while he was performing a sensational performance in a seventh-round knockout of Matthysse at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia, for a fight that headlined the Top Rank on the ESPN + card.
The victory over Lucas Matthysse proves Manny Pacquiao still has a lot to do in his tank. But which boxer should he fight next?
Here are the full results of the battles on Pacquiao-Matthysse's fight card "Fight of Champions"
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Not only Pacquiao, a senator from the Philippines, get a clear win against a well-established opponent – a bit as long in the tooth – but he got one by knockout after scoring three knockdowns against Matthysse.
Pacquiao, once considered one of the fiercest punchers in the sport, had not knocked out an opponent since his stunt against Miguel Cotto, which he knocked out in the 12th round to win a world welterweight title for the first time in November 2009, a fight that many consider to be the peak of his career. He had been 13 consecutive fights since he'd won by knockout, a stretch in which he went 9-4
But he looked more like the Pacquiao of yesteryear than an old Pacquiao this night.
"Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) got off to a good start, going to Matthysse from the opening bell and firing shots and combinations against his slower opponent.
He really took command in the third round when he shared Matthysse's guard with a powerful left uppercut to score a knockdown, Matthysse did not look badly injured, but Pacquiao continued to beat him on the stroke. punching with shots from all angles Matthysse (39-5, 36 KOs), 35, from Argentina, was a duck sitting with a small head movement while Pacquiao found a house for his jab and his Right hand.
While Matthysse was looking for a big punch with his right hand, Pacquiao methodically demolished him. He threw left and right on the body and head which seemed to rattle Matthysse in a dominant fifth round that s'. is finished with Pacquiao who put a right hand on the temple that pushed Matthysse to take a knee for another knockdown just before the end of the round.
| Punching | Pacquiao | Matthysse |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 95 | 57 |
| Starting | 344 | 246 |
| Percentage | 28% | 23% |
| – Courtesy of CompuBox | ||
Pacquiao continued to pound a confused Matthysse in the sixth round. Matthysse's best shot was a sixth round knock on Pacquiao that gave Kenny Bayless the chance to give him a chance to recover.
However, the low blow slowed Pacquiao, who continued to overwhelm Matthysse in the seventh lap before he landed a hard left uppercut who overturned him for the third time in the bout. Bayless started the account but quickly waved at 2 minutes and 43 seconds as Matthysse spat out his mouth, sending the pro-Pacquiao crowd into a frenzy.
"Matthysse has power, so hands all the time and do my best," Pacquiao said of his game plan. "I am surprised because Matthysse is a very tough opponent and I knocked him out, I was focused and patient in the fight and I worked hard at training, so we did good work at the training, we worked hard. "
Pacquiao came into the fight following an extremely controversial decision loss to Jeff Horn in Horn's home town of Brisbane, Australia, last July, which cost him a world welterweight title . He was also returning to the ring following the longest layoff of his career – 378 days – and had also made a huge change in his team.
In the wake of Horn's defeat, Pacquiao dismissed Hall of Fame coach Freddie. Roach after 17 years and 34 fights together – never personally notifying him or having someone in his team – in favor of longtime friend and assistant coach Buboy Fernandez.
Pacquiao landed 95 out of 344 shots (28 percent), according to Matthysse landed only 57 of 246 shots (23 percent). Matthysse got double-digit shots in one turn, the sixth, when he connected with 11.
At its peak, Matthysse, known as "The Machine," was as devastating as No matter who in boxing. But he has not been the same since he suffered a 10-round loss and fracture of the orbital bone against Viktor Postol for a vacant welterweight belt in 2015.
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