What we learned from Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthysse

It was a comeback to After the controversial defeat on points, Australian Horn and Pacquiao also clinched a secondary world title.

Victory silenced the rumors of his declining power and set up the possibility of earning winnings for the Filipino

(39-5, 36 KOs), 35, of Argentina, was struck three times by Pacquiao, who landed an overwhelming 95 shots at 57, according to CompuBox.

Pacquiao – the world's only eight-division boxing champion and a whole He proved that his career was not losing momentum or in crisis.

"I'm still here," Pacq "

" Sometimes, just rest and get it back, and that's what I did.

The uppercut that hit Matthysse for the third time in the seventh round was proof that Pacquiao should still be taken seriously, regardless of the little threat that Matthysse was offering. He faced Matthysse with the same shot in the third round.

If Pacquiao had delivered another laborious performance like the one against Horn, then there would have been calls for him to retire.

But not now

. To crush Matthysse like that after the loss, the layoff, shared with Roach and at 39 years old only enhances the legendary status of Pacquiao. What is more remarkable is that Pacquiao spends most of his time as a senator in the Philippines, juggling his political career with his boxing.

But let's keep things in perspective

As good as was Pacquiao, Matthysse was disappointed and the Filipino triumph did not overturn the fact that he was slowing down.

It remains to be seen whether Pacquiao can reproduce the same buzzsaw style that terrorized opponents with non-stop aggression before 2015.

And is it any surprise that Pacquiao should slow down to his age after to become professional as a penniless 14-year-old in 1995? He won his first world title at the age of 18 and was troubled in recent years by an injury to the shoulder.

If Pacquiao continues to box and target one of the rival and winner of his next fight, he will swim dangerously.

Pacquiao did not reveal any preference for a future opponent after completing Matthysse, but one of the rival champions seems the most obvious.

Keith Thurman [who holds the full WBA world title] IBF champion Errol Spence Jr. or Terence Crawford of WBO would be big pay days for Pacquiao, but the fights would be waiting for them most often.

All this is at its peak and ten years younger than Pacquiao.

Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs), who is also promoted by Top Rank, is the easiest to do but perhaps the biggest fight for Pacquiao is now against Vasyl Lomachenko, No. 1 boxing book book 1 who would have to get up light for a slamming cl

Pacquiao has already talked about fighting the Ukrainian Lomachenko (11-1, 9 KOs), who is also promoted by Top Rank

There are other options

There may not be much appetite for revenge with Jessie Vargas, that Pacquiao advanced two years ago, but the American is behind Pacquiao in the WBA rankings and third with the four world governing bodies. [19659008EnglishAmirKhanquisebathe8septemberforalongtimefeltafightagainstPacquiaobienques-stillintactontheedgeofthelast-minutesuccesstobeamajorconcern

But a fight in Dubai or elsewhere In Asia against Khan, whose parents come from Pakistan, make it an interesting proposal for Pacquiao and his important entourage.

A farewell fight in the Philippines, where Pacquiao fought 12 years ago, against a benign opponent would be an appropriate farewell to ab but the attraction of a big fight. Money means that Pacquiao, who has career earnings of $ 300 million but who has given a lot to caring causes and has significant tax debts, is likely Matthysse to look over at the elite level.

Having offered such opposition and danger against Pacquiao, Matthysse will never again be able to fight for major titles. He seemed slow and his reactions dropped in his fifth career loss.

Argentina has been in some exciting nights over the years and began 2018 fulfilling its ambition of winning a world title of life.

But Matthysse failed to shine against the obscure Tewa Kiram of Thailand – he only became alive in the eighth round – and he was disappointing against Pacquiao, offering little resistance.