Earlier this week, Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya announced a deal had been struck for the legendary 8-weight world champion, Manny Pacquiao to take on Argentinian native Lucas Matthysse.
That fight will be for the WBA world welterweight championship and will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 14th.
Top Rank Mogul, Bob Arum has been Manny Pacquiao’s promoter for a large portion of his career and he has worked with the 35-year-old champion Matthysse also.
Arum shared his opinion that he believes the Argentine will pose a tough test for Pacquiao.
The legendary promoter is hopeful he has enough in his locker to overcome the challenge provided he makes the necessary sacrifices in training camp.
“[Matthysse will give him] a very good run for his money and it’s a tough fight for Manny, but hopefully he will be successful,” Arum told The Manila Times.
“I think he (Pacquiao) has a very good chance, very good chance, but he got to train very hard.”
Arum also shared his belief that had this fight happened when Pacquiao was closer to the peak of his powers; the result would have almost been a foregone conclusion as a Pacquiao knockout.
Arum said Pacquiao still remains one of the best fighters in the world.
But the 86-year-old promoter highlighted he is in a transitional period of his career where he is adjusting to life with a new crop of young fighters coming through for the next era.
“You know, maybe a couple of years ago, Manny would be a big favourite but now it is a pretty even fight.”
“I think Manny is considered one of the best fighters in the world.”
“But you know, as a fighter gets older, the younger fighters come up and they take their place.”
“So Manny is still one of the best fighters in the world.”
“If he wins, he told me he wants to fight Lomachenko. Who many people say is the best fighter in the world,” Arum told The Manila Times.
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