IN scoring his 60th victory (39 knockouts) on Sunday over defending world welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina, a definitely overjoyed Manny Pacquiao would have been absolutely justified if he had admitted during the postfight interview that this was his sweetest win in almost a decade.
Why, because a loss would have meant virtual retirement for him. At 39, and to be dealt a second straight defeat after bowing to that Australian unknown Jeff Horn on July 1, 2017, it would have signaled the sorry ending to one of the sweetest sagas in world boxing. A loss would have delivered through DHL Express the unmistakable message that there is no more reason for Pacquiao to stay even a minute longer atop the ring.
Thus, literally, the Sunday victory—a knockout win no less—gave Pacquiao the impetus to continue fighting as that triumph was an obviously emphatic signal of the coming of his second wind.
The validation came from no less than Pacquiao, when he said minutes after the fight in Kuala Lumpur: “This win means I am still good for two, even three, more fights.” Or words to that effect.
Suddenly, Pacquiao was Bernard Hopkins, who was still winning at age 50 to include world title fights he had snatched even when he was 45, 46 already.
Suddenly, the Philippine Airlines-flown Pacquiao was Superman. Again.
The win on Sunday was Pacquiao’s first knockout triumph since he scored his last stoppage almost 10 years back, when he halted Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto in the 12th round in 2009.
During that nine-year span, Pacquiao was 9-4 (win-loss), a lackluster record marred by that pride-pricking sixth-round knockout loss to archnemesis Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in 2012.
Stunningly, if not miraculously, Pacquiao, at 39, is back on top.
But for all the much-ballyhooed beauty of Pacquiao’s seventh-round knockout of Matthysse, some questions cry for answers.
One, why was Matthysse a bit slow, lacking in grit and reduced to embracing a fighting style that was in complete contrast to his profile flashed to the world in the run-up to the fight? Where was his vaunted knockout power in his right?
Two, why did he kneel in the fifth round, essentially gifting Pacquiao with one precious knockdown to virtually surrender the fight? Didn’t Matthysse succumb already to a knockdown in the third, allowing Pacquiao to nurse an almost insurmountable four-point lead in the 12-round bout?
And three, Matthysse’s “falling,” and next kneeling down yet again, a third time in the seventh appeared more of a delayed knockdown than anything. Maybe, referee Kenny Bayless was forced to wave Matthysse out for a TKO loss because the Argentinian seemed to be making a mockery of the fight? Bayless’s action in effect saved the dignity of the sport called affectionately as the “sweet science.”
As the crown holder, Matthysse was brandishing, boasting of, 36 knockouts in 39 wins going into the fight. He owned a right straight touted as strong enough to transform an Argentinian cow into instant corned beef with one blow. But why did we not see even one punch thrown, laudable and recognizable enough to hurt a fly in nearly 21 minutes of the fight?
Nice quote from you, Matthysse. “You win some and you lose some.” From Matthysse, you are now Masterpiece.
For losing to Pacquiao and getting paid $2 million no less, Evita is now turning in her grave for one soul not crying for Argentina.
Good job, Señor Lucas.
THAT’S IT The story is not about San Miguel Beer (SMB) inflicting a second straight loss to Alaska on Monday for a 2-0 Beermen lead in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinals. It’s about June Mar Fajardo losing his cool and slamming the ball, earning a technical. Even a giant as gentle as the 6-foot-10 June Mar can crack up at times. Was his outburst a dig at officiating? Let’s see tonight, when SMB tries to close it out.