Matthysse a possibility for Pacquiao’s next fight, says Arum

By Boxing News - 09/16/2015 - Comments

Image: Matthysse a possibility for Pacquiao’s next fight, says ArumBy Tim Fletcher: #2 WBC Lucas Matthysse (37-3, 34 KOs) has a lot on the line for his next fight against #1 WBC Viktor Postol (27-0, 11 KOs) in their fight for the vacant WBC World super lightweight title on October 3rd from the StubHub Center, in Carson, California.

The fight will be televised by HBO. If Matthysse can get past the tall 5’11” Postol, he has a chance to be the next opponent for superstar Manny Pacquiao when he returns to the ring in February or March in 2016, according to the LA Times. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum likes the idea of matching Pacquiao against the slugger Matthysse.

However, there are other options that the 83-year-old Arum is considering for Pacquiao for his next fight. He’s also interested in possibly matching him against Terence Crawford, who he promotes in his Top Rank stable, IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook or the highly popular Amir Khan. There are positives and minuses attributed for each fighter. None of them are perfect. Matthysse probably isn’t as popular as Khan, but if he wins the WBC 140lb title, he’ll have an advantage over Khan, as he doesn’t hold a world title.

Brook’s IBF welterweight title and his unbeaten record makes him a good choice. A fight between Brook and Pacquiao could likely sell out the huge 80,000 seat Wembley Stadium in London, England. Arum would probably like the idea of having the fight staged there in order to take advantage of the huge gate. Pacquiao vs. Brook likely wouldn’t sell in the United States due to Brook not being a well-known fighter over there. Crawford wouldn’t be a big sell either on pay-per-view, but he is with Arum so that makes him an appealing choice for Pacquiao and likely the one who will ultimately be getting the fight.

“A very big fight with Pacquiao would be my goal. I want to keep fighting the best fighters, in my division and in the game,” Matthysse said to the latimes.com.

Matthysse would be a very tough opponent for the 36-year-old Pacquiao to take with him coming off of shoulder surgery and coming off of a 9 to 10 month layoff from the injury. Arum has a kind of a different way of doing things though when it comes to matching his fighters after they’ve been out of the ring for a long spell and coming off injuries.

Arum doesn’t seem to mind matching Pacquiao really tough. It’s definitely a different way of matching. Other promoters would likely bring Pacquiao back slowly after shoulder surgery. You obviously don’t want to throw him in the deep end given the severity of his injury. But in Pacquiao’s case, his contract with Top Rank ends at the end of 2016. If Arum were to let Pacquiao take a couple of soft opponents in 2016, it would eat up the remainder of his contract with Top Rank, and he’d likely retire at the end of the year. There would be a lot of lost money by Pacquiao not taking on the very best fighters possible.

“I feel proud that people consider the Provodnikov one of the best fights of the year,” Matthysse said. “It depends what Viktor brings to the ring, but I’m prepared to win.”

There’s no telling whether Matthyse, 32, can even get past the much taller Postol. Matthysse will be giving away five inches in height to the 5’11” Postol, and that’s going to make it very difficult for him to land his shots in this fight.

Also on the Matthysse-Postol fight will be junior welterweights Antonio Orozco and Humberto Soto facing each other in a 10 round fight. There’s also lightweights Mercito Gesta and Martin Honorio fighting a 10 round bout.



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