“As far as I am concerned, everything is fine,” said ring legend Manny Pacquiao, responding to rumors that his fight against WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse is headed to a postponement or even cancellation. “Lucas Matthysse and I are getting ready to give the fans their money’s worth and July 15 will be huge for boxing in Malaysia.”
Pacquiao has delegated management of MP Promotions, the lead promoter of his July 15 (July 14 in the US) battle at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to his trusted lieutenants and assigned a team to take care of business and logistics as he concentrated in training alone.
Marketing and sales head Arnold Vegafria echoed Pacquiao’s sentiments. Vegafria, who was monitoring news online on a plane heading back to the Philippines from New York City, said that all concerned decision makers were in agreement with each other.
“Everyone is on board. Everyone understands the situation and the fight is going as planned,” said Vegafria.
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Meanwhile, Pacquiao and Matthysse stepped up their respective training sessions a notch higher as preparations for the fight entered its hardest stages this week.
Pacquiao is all business these days as he is focusing on the most challenging fight of his career. He sparred for 10 rounds Thursday afternoon and gave out a big smile to his supporters, saying, “it’s good to be back.”
Pacquiao’s sparring will reach the full 12 rounds next week.
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Aside from the Pacquiao Vs Matthysse championship, three more world title fights are in store for hardcore boxing fans including the World Boxing Association featherweight bout between Edivaldo Ortega of Mexico, (26-1-1, 12 KOs) and Jhack Tepora of the Philippines (21-0, 16 KOs).
Chinese amateur sensation and Olympian Lu Bin will challenge Carlos Canizales of Venezuela, the WBA light flyweight champion (20-0-1). Another world championship pits IBF flyweight title holder Moruti Mthalane of South Africa and Muhammad Waseem of Pakistan.