Manny Pacquiao reignites career with Round 7 KO of Lucas Matthysse
Well into their 30s, Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse both desperately needed a win to stay relevant in boxing. Pacquiao earned that honor.
Manny Pacquiao is a legend in the sport of boxing. He’s fought professionally for 23 years and he’s won titles in the flyweight division through the welterweight division. Pacquiao vanquished numerous all-time greats like Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto. As his career draws to a close, Lucas Matthysse took his place as Pacquiao’s latest antagonist.
With all the accolades attributed to Pacquiao, it’s easy to forget that Matthysse was the WBA welterweight champion heading into this fight. Matthysse’s reputation as a knockout puncher narrowed betting margins. Pacquiao was the slight betting favorite, but there were doubts surrounding him.
He hadn’t knocked out an opponent in nine years, he was coming off a loss to Jeff Horn, and he was approaching 40 years old. There were legitimate reasons to doubt Pacquiao’s chances of beating Matthysse, but Pacquiao erased them all.
Surprisingly, Pacquiao came out ferociously in Round 1. He charged Matthysse, throwing right-left combinations which stalled Matthysse’s offense. Pacquiao didn’t land any devastating punches, but he showed great energy. He looked like the Manny Pacquiao of old. He won Round 1 in convincing fashion.
Pacquiao continued his elevated pace in Round 2. He chased Matthysse around the ring throwing combinations. Matthysse tried to jumpstart his offense by countering Pacquiao, but his deficit in hand speed showed. Pacquiao repeatedly beat Matthysse to the punch. Matthysse looked like the older fighter even though he is five years younger than Pacquiao.
Matthysse took the center of the ring in Round 3 but was quickly pushed back by Pacquiao. The crowd erupted when Pacquiao dropped Matthysse early in the round with a left uppercut. Matthysse quickly got to his feet but was in the unfamiliar position of retreating.
Matthysse tried to keep Pacquiao off of him with straight rights, but Pacquiao caught them with his gloves. Pacquiao stunned Matthysse with his work rate.
The fourth round was a continuation of the third. Pacquiao’s jab fired off at Matthysse’s head, almost always connecting. Matthysse couldn’t land a punch on Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s reflexes were on point and he dodged and rolled his shoulders out of the way of Matthysse’s shots. He put on a boxing clinic and Matthysse was on the receiving end of his lessons.
Pacquiao’s energy increased in Round 5. He looked quicker than he did in Round 1 as he fired off lefts and rights at a blistering pace. He didn’t allow Matthysse a chance to throw a punch. With a little more than a minute remaining, Pacquiao and Matthysse clashed heads. Pacquiao briefly pawed at his head with his glove and the fighting resumed.
The headbutt revitalized Matthysse and he landed several punches on Pacquiao. Just when it looked like Matthysse was starting to find his rhythm, Pacquiao caught Matthysse on the temple with a right hook that made Matthysse take a knee. He returned to his feet but the round ended.
Matthysse caught a break in Round 6 after he caught Pacquiao with a low blow. After a few seconds ticked by, Pacquiao smothered Matthysse with his offense. Pacquiao beat up Matthysse for the remainder of the round. Matthysse was caught in a downward spiral and the end looked near.
Pacquiao slowed his pace slightly at the start of the seventh. He seemed content with jabbing at Matthysse, but he switched gears midway through the round. Pacquiao pressed Matthysse with a flurry of punches and floored Matthysse for the third time with a hellacious left uppercut. Matthysse didn’t see it coming.
When Matthysse dropped to his knee, he spit out his mouthguard. That was all referee Kenny Bayless need to see. Bayless stopped the fight as Matthysse acquiesced to defeat.
Pacquiao might be on the dark side of his career, but his impressive performance against Matthysse provided a ray of light. This was Pacquiao’s best performance since his destruction of Miguel Cotto in 2009. Somehow, someway Pacquiao was able to turn back the hands of time for one night.
When asked in the ring about who he would like to fight next Pacquiao responded, “That’s another story. Right now, I’m happy to go back to my country, the Philippines, to celebrate the victory.”
It’s hard to tell what Pacquiao’s next move is going to be. Will he fight Terence Crawford of Vasily Lomachencko? He’s reluctant to say, but based on this performance, people will tune in to watch him fight either man.
Next: Pacquiao vs. Matthysse round by round results
This performance might have been a flash in the pan for Pacquiao. He’s no longer on the same level as Crawford or Lomachenko, but tonight he looked like he was. Regardless of who he fights next, Pacquiao was able to channel the foutain of youth against Matthysse and add another chapter to his legacy.