Matthysse, De La Hoya to visit Manila

Even though Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse holds the world title, he considers himself a challenger fighting a legend in Manny Pacquiao.

Matthysse said that, like other Argentinean boxing stars before him, he’ll get the chance to fight a real boxing superstar.

“(Oscar) Bonavena fought with (Muhammad) Ali, ‘Chino’ Maidana with (Floyd) Mayweather and it’s my turn to fight Pacquiao,” said Matthysse, the defending WBA welterweight champion, in an article on the Fight News website.

“I feel happy, it’s very exciting to fight Manny Pacquiao, a boxing legend. For me, as an athlete it’s very big to face a monster like him, to enter the ring with him,” he added.

Matthysse is scheduled to visit Manila together with his promoter, former champion Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, on April 18 to 19.

According to Joaquin Henson’s report to Philboxing, De la Hoya and Matthysse will fly in from the US on the morning of April 18 and later attend a press conference to launch the fight.

The bout is set to take place in Kuala Lumpur on July 15.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)