By Hesiquio Balderas
Those pleasant moments and the taste of the victory that Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse gave his fans during his explosive career apparently disappeared with his last defeat. And yes, it was a painful setback from which he should not feel embarrassed, as he was in against a legendary fighter like Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.
But many do not want to acknowledge it and they call Lucas a quitter, saying that he lost without throwing all his weapons into a war as he said he would prior to the bout.
“I had a bad night, I do not deny it. I tried everything. I thought would be enough to come out with my hand up but things did not work out,” said Matthysse.
“I have a lot of respect for the fans and for myself, and without making excuses I want to remind you that I wanted to knock out Pacquiao but something stopped me and I could not finish what I wanted,” he confirmed.
Indeed, Matthysse offered great fights before against the likes of Zab Judah, Devon Alexander, Danny Garcia, Ruslan Provodnikov, John Molina etc. and gave samples of his great warrior heart, and for that reason, he can’t be considered a coward or a fighter who simply quit.
“No fighter is a coward. No. I repeat, in my mind it was clear that I went to the ring looking for victory for my country, for my team, my family, my promoter, and I just couldn’t do what I worked so hard in the gym for,” he said.
And like other fighters of the lineage and class of Lucas Martin “La Maquina” Matthysse, who were born to be great and projected themselves to unsuspected heights in the sport of flat noses and cauliflower ears, they all eventually reach their end after so many wars.