Pacquiao Not Yet Done, Knocks Out Lucas Matthysse

The Manny Pacquiao who fought last Sunday against Lucas Matthysse might be an older model, but he proved that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

In front of a jam-packed crowd in Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Pacquiao traded blows with the Argentine professional boxer and eventually showed boxing fans something that they haven’t seen since he fought Miguel Cotto in 2009: a knockout win.

With a left uppercut in the seventh round, Pacquiao decked Matthysse and claimed the WBA regular welterweight title.

Matthysse hit the canvas three times and was overwhelmed by the Filipino boxer’s flurry of punches that felt like they came from all angles.

“Matthysse has the power also so we were taking care in the ring with hands up all the time and doing my best,” Pacquiao said. “I’m surprised [he was knocked down three times] because Matthysse is a very tough opponent. I knocked him down and that’s a bonus for being focused and patient and in the fight and working hard in training.”

According to the CompuBox Punch Stats, Pacquiao landed a total of 95 punches, with 43% of them considered as power punches. Matthysse, on the other hand, only landed 57 punches, with 27% of them power punches.

After losing to Pacquiao, Matthysse took it like a man.

“He’s a great fighter and a great champion,” said Matthysse through an interpreter when asked about Pacquiao.

“It was turned around — sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Today was my turn to lose. But I lost to a great fighter and great legend in Manny Pacquiao. [Now I will] take rest, take a break. I worked really hard. I want to go back home with my family. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Today was my turn to lose, but nothing more. I’m OK.”

As for Pacquiao, when asked who he wanted to fight next, he said it was a discussion for another day. He said that for now, he wants to go home, and focus on his job as a public servant.

The Fight of Champions was an overall success for Filipino boxers as Mig Elorde, grandson of Filipino boxing legend Flash Elorde, and Jhack Tepora also won their respective fights.

Elorde got his first international win by knocking down Thailand’s Ratchanon Sawangsoda in the third round.

Not to be outdone, Tepora managed to clinched the WBA featherweight title by serving a TKO to Mexican fighter Edivaldo Ortega, improving his record to 22-0.