Lucas Matthysse will finally face Manny Pacquiao in the first defence of his WBA world welterweight title on July15. The bout will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Oscar De La Hoya promoter of Matthysse, confirmed the bout via social media. It will be aired in the US on ESPN.
The bout will be a promotion between Manny Pacquiao and Golden Boy Promotions, with Top Rank although not directly involved, securing the ESPN TV spot for the bout.
Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring for the first time following his controversial defeat to Australian Jeff Horn in July last year. Pacquiao was dethroned of his WBO world welterweight title by Horn in controversial circumstances via unanimous decision.
BOXING promoter Oscar De La Hoya confirmed that Argentina’s World Boxing Association welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse will defend his title against Manny Pacquiao in Kuala Lumpur.
Pacquiao had first announced plans for the fight in a statement last April, but details of the bout remained unclear.
In a statement on social media, De La Hoya said the contest was now confirmed. “Signed, sealed, and delivered: Proud to officially announce that WBA welterweight world champion Lucas Matthysse will put his title at stake against Manny Pacquiao in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night July 14 (US time),” De La Hoya wrote.
Not an easy deal
“When we were contacted by Manny Pacquiao and his crew, we weren’t sure what his current situation was but we worked together. There were a few issues that came up and we worked through them and we were able to get it done.”
This proposed event has been backed up a few times. In the past, Pacquiao has spoken of fighting in exotic places but those plans have always fallen through for one reason or another.
Pacquiao-Matthysse will be contested for the Argentine’s WBA welterweight title that he won back in late January as he stopped Tewa Kiram in eight rounds at the Forum in Inglewood, California. For Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) it fulfills a dream to face Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs).