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BOX-MAS-WELTER-ARG-PHI
You cannot say I’m 39! Bubbling Pacquiao has secret of youth
KUALA LUMPUR, July 15, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Young-again Manny Pacquiao was in
ebullient form Sunday after he leapt back into the global boxing spotlight with a
seven-round knockout of WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse.
Pacquiao will be 40 in December but was beaming as he told reporters afterwards:
“Do I look 39?
“At 39 years old, I’m still OK, I’m still fine. When you see me in training, you
can tell I’m like 28, 27 years old,” Pacquiao said.
“You cannot say I’m 39 years old! You can say I’m 28, 27 years old.”
Pacquiao certainly seemed to have been drinking from the fountain of youth as his
speed, agility, lightning quick movements and punching power magically returned from
the first bell to overwhelm the 35-year-old Argentine.
It was a stark contrast to the flat, lacklustre Pacquiao who had lost his title on
points in an ugly brawl with Australian journeyman Jeff Horn a year ago.
Much of the credit for the 60th victory of his legendary career can be laid at the
door of conditioning coach Justin Fortune, who told AFP before the fight that “the
old Pacquiao” was back thanks to a new training programme.
“We changed things up this time,” said Fortune. “We did a whole bunch of different
work. We were shocking his system back into working.
“It’s a different style of training — shorter, faster and more intense. So his body
reacts differently. So that’s why he looks like the old Pacquiao.”
Pacquiao, who Fortune said had been initially stubborn to change his ways,
acknowledged that the new training regime had paid off.
“This is true,” said Pacquiao. “This training is very special. Because basically my
team told me to stop training (too much).”
Pacquiao knocked down the Argentine as early as the third round with a stunning left
uppercut that thudded around the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.
The 35-year-old Matthysse, who came in with a reputation as a big puncher, had no
answer to Pacquiao’s blistering speed and he dropped to his knee at the end of the
fifth round for a count after being visibly shaken by a barrage including a left to
the temple.
And referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight giving Pacquiao victory by TKO
(technical knockout) after 2min 43sec of the seventh when Matthysse sank to his
knees following a fierce right-left combination.
It was Pacquiao’s 39th KO win of his fabled 23-year career but his first since he
beat Miguel Cotto in November 2009, almost nine years ago.
“He’s a great fighter,” said Matthysse whose win-loss record fell to 39-5 (36 KOs).
“He’s a great champion. You win some, and you lose some.
“Today was my turn to lose, but I lost to a great fighter and a great legend in
Manny Pacquiao. I lost, but I walk away with my head raised.”
BSS/AFP/SMM/1630 hrs