Pacquiao vs. Broner Weigh-In: Results and Twitter Reaction for Pre-Fight Event
Jan 18, 2019
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 16: WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (L) and Adrien Broner face off during a news conference at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on January 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao will defend his title against Broner on January 19 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Champion Manny Pacquiao and challenger Adrien Broner both made weight Friday ahead of their WBA welterweight title fight Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
It's Pac-Man's first title defense since defeating Lucas Matthysse for the belt in July 2018. Meanwhile, The Problem is seeking his first victory since February 2017 after a loss to Mikey Garcia and a draw with Jessie Vargas in his last two bouts.
Here's a look at the weigh-in results (via the Sporting News' Andreas Hale):
Pacquiao continues to compete at boxing's highest levels despite hitting 40 years old in December and serving as a senator in his native Philippines. His seventh-round knockout of Matthysse quickly halted questions about his competitive future.
The Filipino southpaw said Thursday he'll look to make another statement against Broner.
"This is a challenge because it is my first fight as a 40-year-old," Pacquiao told reporters. "I have something to prove to everyone about what that means. Age is just a number. What matters is how you prepare and that you're working hard."
He added: "These days I don't only train my body but also my mind. I'm a senator, so my mind is very busy. I also play chess regularly and read books to keep my mind sharp."
On the flip side, Broner is looking for a much-needed high-impact win of his own.
The 29-year-old American is 6-3-1 over his past 10 fights after a 27-0 start to his pro career. None of those fights were against opponents with Pac-Man's track record either, which adds to the challenge.
"I'm in shape and ready to go," Broner told reporters Monday. "I could have made weight weeks ago. We're prepared to go out and execute. I've been here before, and even though I haven't been in a fight of exactly this magnitude, I'm just treating it like any other fight. He's another opponent."
Dan Rafael of ESPN reported Pacquiao will receive $10 million and Broner gets $2.5 million from the guaranteed purse. Both fighters will also earn a percentage of the event profits.
Pac-Man is a heavy favorite (-325, bet $325 to win $100), per OddsShark, to win the championship clash.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream, TV Info
Jan 17, 2019
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 16: WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (L) and Adrien Broner pose during a news conference at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on January 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao will defend his title against Broner on January 19 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Nearly a quarter-century after he first turned pro, Manny Pacquiao is still stepping between the ropes.
The legendary boxer could have retired years ago with an ironclad reputation as an all-time great, but at 40 years old and with his best years and biggest fights well behind him, he soldiers on. He just became a champion again, so of course he has to defend the title, right?
Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) will put his WBA world welterweight title on the line against Adrien Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs) on pay-per-view Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao won the belt with a seventh-round TKO win over Lucas Matthysse in July 2018, one year after a controversial loss to Australia's Jeff Horn.
The Filipino has more than lived up to his potential as a pro, winning titles across eight divisions, taking on the best in the world and beating nearly all of them.
Broner, on the other hand, is a study in wasted potential or undeserved hype, depending on your point of view. The former four-division world titleholder was once tipped to be one of the sport's biggest stars, but he's lost to top-notch opponents now on three separate occasions (Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter and Marcos Maidana).
He's also coming off a majority draw with Jessie Vargas, and at age 29—and with several brushes with the law and other controversies on his resume—does not have many opportunities left to prove himself. A win over Pacquiao, even one well past his prime, would be huge for Broner's career.
It's a fight that would have been a much bigger deal roughly six years ago, but it does still have the potential to be an entertaining fight.
Odds: Pacquiao -300 (bet $300 to win $100), Broner +230
Broner is 11 years younger than Pacquiao, stands a shade taller and has a two-inch reach advantage (69" to 67"). He has the physical advantages, but that might not matter on Saturday night. The reason Pacquiao, a sitting senator in the Philippines, is still fighting at his age might be the simplest one: it doesn't feel like work.
"Here's the thing," Pacquiao said, per SportingNews.com's Mark Ortega. "While in training, I am enjoying doing that every day. I'm not tired."
Pacquiao is loving the work, and he's still getting the results. Since losing the megafight to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015, Pac Man is 3-1.
The only loss is the one to Horn, in which the naturally bigger Australian tried to rough up and brawl with Pacquiao for 12 rounds in his hometown of Brisbane. The judges gave him the fight, even though many felt Pacquiao did the better boxing (the numbers back him up, too).
The loss stung, but Pacquiao came back with his first stoppage since a TKO-win over Miguel Cotto in 2009. Matthysse had no answer for Pacquiao and was done within seven.
Pacquiao is not quite the whirling, windmilling puncher he was in his heyday, but he still packs some pop. Broner will have to be mindful of his power, even as he has plans of his own to knock out the champion.
"Every fighter is different, but I know if I touch him flush, I'll put him out. It's no secret, he's been to sleep before," said Broner, per Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ.
Broner is no doubt referencing Pacquiao's knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, which saw the Filipino prizefighter splayed out, motionless, on the mat after a vicious punch from Marquez.
To pull off the same feat as Marquez, Broner will have to harness his talents and focus. He's been working with a no-nonsense trainer in Kevin Cunningham, but even his tutelage couldn't get Broner a win over a fading Vargas.
Broner also likely won't have many friends in the Las Vegas crowd, not with Pacquiao in the opposite corner and with video of his racist comments directed toward Pacquiao and his fans at Thursday's press conference.
Broner certainly is no stranger to playing the villain, but that won't help if he ends up in a close fight and the crowd is amplifying everything Pacquiao lands.
There's a factor that may come into Broner's favor, one that moves in silence. Time is not on Pacquiao's side, and eventually, his body won't let him keep up with younger, talented opponents.
In many sports, you can watch an athlete decline gracefully, but boxers take off so much time between bouts that the end can often come as a shock. The flame snuffs out quietly in the interim, away from the cameras and competition.
Last time out, Pacquiao showed that his talents can still burn brightly. It's why he's the favorite against Broner and one of the best ever. As long as he still has it in him, he should win, but there's always a chance the end of a fighter's career comes before they are ready.
Odds are courtesy of OddsShark and updated as of Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 a.m. ET.
Terence Crawford Beats Jose Benavidez Jr. via TKO to Retain WBO Title Belt
Oct 14, 2018
Terence
Terence "Bud" Crawford took his first swing at Jose Benavidez Jr. on Friday at the match weigh-in, coming up empty. His last one came on Saturday night in the 12th round of yet another brilliant performance, a right hook with Benavidez (27-1, 18 KOs) dazed on the ropes that forced the referee to step in and end the bout, handing Crawford (34-0, 25 KOs) a technical-knockout victory in front of a hometown crowd at the CHI Health Center in Omaha Nebraska.
It was Crawford's first defense of his WBO world welterweight title, which he won from Jeff Horn earlier in the year. A brave showing from Benavidez—whose career was nearly derailed by a 2016 shooting that ripped through his leg and is still affecting him—took Crawford into the final round of the bout, but all the punishment he had absorbed prior proved too much to handle.
Excellent body work by Crawford in the earlier rounds helped to set the stage for this brutal knockdown, per Top Rank Boxing:
Benavidez survived the count, but the referee had seen enough and waved off the bout with just 18 seconds remaining. The challenger acquitted himself well, providing Crawford with one of his toughest tests in some time, but he just didn't have enough to keep up with the myriad problems that a fighter of Bud's prowess poses.
Crawford opted for a southpaw stance for most of the bout, and it helped him land a couple of nice right-handed shots at the end of a cagey frame. Even though he was facing a boxer with an impeccable pedigree, Benavidez showed no fear, dropping his guard in the first and then taunting him after the bell rang.
The Ring's Mike Coppinger found something to like from both fighters early on:
Benavidez lands a big counter right toward end of Round 2. Also landed a body shot that forced Crawford grab, but Bud’s jab controlling action #CrawfordBenavidez
The third round saw Crawford find a comfortable plan of attack against Benavidez, doubling up on the jab before following it up with stinging shots to the body. Benavidez, trying to figure out how to defend against the attack, showed less movement in the first couple of rounds.
The 26-year-old challenger bounced back in the fourth, landing a flurry on Crawford early in the round and a (perhaps a bit low) right hand to the abdomen that disrupted the champion's rhythm.
Benavidez's straight right proved difficult for Crawford in the middle frames, per NY Fights' Michael Woods:
The right hand giving Bud as much trouble of any punch I've seen Bud deal with as a pro.
Eventually, though, Crawford got back into his groove, with Benavidez clearly fatigued. The 31-year-old Nebraskan's feet were as fresh in the late rounds as they were in the first, allowing him to move out of the way of Benavidez's attacks and create fresh, difficult angles when it was his turn to go on the offensive.
Rappler's Ryan Songalia saw the end coming:
Jose Benavidez Jr seems to have nothing left, his knee probably has no bounce left in it, trying to posture like he has something he’s holding back. #CrawfordBenavidez
Benavidez would have a couple of mini-revivals in the 10th and 11th, but once Crawford smelled blood, it was all over.
Time and time again, Crawford has proved himself to be one of the best fighters in boxing. He moved up to welterweight after unifying the belts at junior welterweight, a division that had stopped challenging him years before he left it. A showing like this will hopefully put pressure on the string-pullers in boxing to line him up against the other titleholders in the division (Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter or Keith Thurman).
Benavidez is clearly a talent and has some great attributes. There should be more opportunities for him going forward, but it could prove tough for him to break through in boxing's most talented weight class.
Terence Crawford vs. Jose Benavidez Jr.: Fight Odds, Time, Live Stream, TV Info
Oct 11, 2018
FILE - In this June 9, 2018, file photo, Terence Crawford celebrates after defeating Jeff Horn, of Australia, in a welterweight title boxing match in Las Vegas. Crawford said he’s eager to make unbeaten challenger Jose Benavidez Jr. eat his words when they meet in the ring in Omaha, Neb., on Oct. 13. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Terence Crawford (33-0, 24 KOs) is new to the welterweight division but he already has his sights set on accomplishing the same thing he did at junior welterweight: unifying the world titles.
The man they call "Bud" already has one of his own, a WBO world title he earned by picking apart Jeff Horn in June in his first bout at 147 pounds. He will defend it on Saturday night against Jose Benavidez Jr. (27-0, 18 KOs), an undefeated 26-year-old just two years removed from a shooting that nearly ended his career.
As tough as Benavidez may be, he's not what Crawford wants. Crawford is 31 years old and just now entering boxing's most talented division. He's one of the sports best talents but is far from a household name. He's looking for greater glory, quickly. That might even mean passing up Manny Pacquiao, the WBA "regular" champion.
"He's not a champion in my eyes," Crawford said, per BoxingScene.com's Keith Idec. "He don't have the super belt. That's the champion in my eyes. I look at the number one champion in the division. I don't look at the WBC silver and the interim belts and all that. I look at the super [champion] and the actual champion of the division."
That would mean the likes of Keith Thurman, the WBA "super" champion who has been inactive due to injury. Or better yet, Errol Spence Jr. (IBF), with whom Crawford has been trading insults with for months. Perhaps even Shawn Porter (WBC) could be in the mix.
Crawford needs one of those fights to happen—the sooner the better for his career and legacy. But first up is yet another test fight, which Crawford always seems to ace.
Odds: Crawford -3500 (bet $3,500 to win $100), Benavidez Jr. +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com and updated as of Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 a.m. ET.
As hungry as Benavidez may be, he's going to be hard pressed to beat Crawford, who is an overwhelming favorite going into Saturday's bout. Crawford can switch stances. He hits with power, precision and speed. Most opponents find him difficult to hit, even as Crawford openly taunts them in the ring.
Already, some like TheFightCity.com's Lee Wylie see big problems for Benavidez:
He's wide open down the middle. Crawford will punch inside those swings and get the KO. https://t.co/t4ZKJazmlS
Crawford can be a slow starter, as the pugilism processor inside his head calculates what his opponent is bringing and figures out the perfect way to neutralize it. Benavidez will have to be careful attacking like he does in the above video, with his hands down. Crawford is an expert counter-puncher, and his last four wins have come by stoppage.
But maybe Benavidez can survive Crawford's assaults. He's been through more than most.
As ESPN.com's Mark Kriegel reported, Benavidez worked extremely hard with strength coach Alex Ariza to come back from a 2016 shooting that saw a bullet rip through his femoral artery:
"'How can he fight?' Ariza thought to himself. He's barely walking. The femur had been shattered. Muscle and scar tissue had braided together, like a root. Now, to ensure that the quadriceps fired properly, they had to be separated by needling, cupping and deep tissue work.
"The trainer had worked with some brave champions: Diego Corrales, Erik Morales, Marcos Maidana and Manny Pacquiao. But he had never seen an athlete endure that sustained level of pain. 'It's like pulling the skin from your body,' Ariza said. 'He'd just bite down, not to cry, not to show weakness. The doctor would ask if he wanted to take a break. He'd say no. He'd get this blank stare, like he was going somewhere far away.'"
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 09: Jose Benavidez Jr. celebrates his first-round knockout of Frank Rojas to win their welterweight bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Then again—and not to diminish what Benavidez has gone through—Crawford has survived a shooting of his own. These are two tough people who will be in the ring Saturday night. But so far, only one of them has proved he has the skill set of a world champion.
For all Crawford's accomplishments, he lacks a career-defining bout.
Sure, he unified four world belts at junior lightweight against Julius Indongo, but that mismatch only lasted three rounds.
The way he weathered the storm against Yuriorkis Gamboa before knocking out the whirling dervish was a sight to behold, but that was in 2014 and just one fight into Crawford's reign as a lightweight world champ.
The way he picked apart the then-undefeated Viktor Postol in 2016 might be his most accomplished showing so far considering the stakes, but its still lacking in glamour.
Crawford has made it look all too easy at times, but he's finally in the deep end of the boxing talent pool now, right where he belongs.
As long as nothing crazy happens against Benavidez on Saturday night, Crawford should be on his way to taking on the biggest names in the division.
The business of boxing might get in the way, with Crawford fighting for Top Rank on ESPN and many of the others signed with PBC, but if the other key players do their part (read: keep winning), the growing demand for these fights should force the issue.
Shawn Porter Beats Danny Garcia via Decision to Win WBC Welterweight Belt
Sep 9, 2018
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 05: Shawn Porter works out and speaks to the press during the media workout event for his upcoming Welterweight title fight against Danny Garcia at Gleason's Gym on September 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images)
In a relentless, back-and-forth bout between two of the top fighters at 147 pounds, Shawn Porter was able to convince the judges he did just enough to defeat Danny Garcia and win the WBC world welterweight title by unanimous decision Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
CBS Sports' Brian Campbell provided the cards:
SCORECARDS: 116-112, 115-113, 115-113 for Shawn Porter.
Well deserved. They got it right. What a fun fight. Porter is a two-time champion.
Porter was much more active during the fight, working the body and keeping his feet and hands moving through each round. Garcia withstood many of Porter's charges and was able to put together some fine counterpunches throughout the fight.
After the bout, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. came into the ring and said he would love to fight Porter. Porter responded in kind, saying it would be the "easiest fight to make in boxing," per the Showtime broadcast.
For Garcia, this was just the second loss of his career. The first came against Keith Thurman in 2017, when he lost the very same belt he was working to win back Saturday night.
With Porter's aggressive, hard-charging style, timing was always going to be the key for Garcia. He did a fine job of lining him up in the first round, per PBC:
Porter opted for sticking the jab and then following it inside with a barrage of punches. It worked in his favor sometimes, but it allowed Garcia to land several thudding shots. A brilliant overhand right from Garcia seemed to hurt Porter, and a left hook to the body likely lingered well beyond the third frame.
Rappler's Ryan Songalia felt Garcia was proving he was the better pugilist of the two early on:
Danny Garcia has the superior talent of the two, and it's clear early on. Porter's hope would be that his grit and stamina keep him around long enough for something to happen #GarciaPorter
Porter put together an excellent fourth round by making it the brawling, close-range slugfest he loves. That seemed to spark something in him, as he kept up the bullying behavior, and it led to some excellent sequences.
The back-and-forth bout and the contrast in styles made it an entertaining fight, though difficult to parse. You could make a case for either fighter taking control by the middle rounds. Here's how Sporting News's Andreas Hale and ESPN's Dan Rafael saw it at the midway point:
It's getting interesting. Porter is up 4-2 on my scorecard. He's just busier. Garcia is more accurate but isn't throwing enough. Always been my concern with Swift.
Porter's ability to force the issue even as he absorbed some thundering punches was impressive. It kept the pace up, the sound of the gloves making contact akin to the pop-pop-pop of a fireworks show finale. Porter's activity overwhelmed Garcia at times, but the latter was able to counter effectively, especially with the left hook. His jab was nonexistent, but Garcia made up for it with precision power punching.
Here's how PBC described the relentless action as the fight drew to a close:
Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. #GarciaPorter
Awkward footwork allowed Porter to get in some solid counterpunches of his own, and he did well to take away the space Garcia needed to line up his shots. In the end, the judges liked the work he did in this bout better and awarded him with a unanimous decision.
A fight between Porter and Spence would be great for the division, but it's possible that Thurman could come into play here. Thurman was the holder of the WBC title but had to vacate it because of inactivity. If he is cleared to fight soon, he might want to get back the belt he had to give up without a fight. Either way, Porter's career still looks bright, as he has another championship bout in his future.
Amir Khan vs. Samuel Vargas: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info
Sep 6, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 04: Amir Khan during a media workout at the Bull Ring on September 4, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Amir Khan's comeback continues on Saturday night when he takes on Samuel Vargas in Birmingham, England, in a non-title welterweight matchup.
After getting brutally knocked out by Canelo Alvarez in May 2016, Khan (32-4, 20 KOs) spent two years away from the ring.
When he finally returned, he did it in style, knocking out Phil Lo Greco in just 39 seconds to claim his first victory in 23 months. Now, the former world champion will probably be looking to spend a bit more time in the ring and bank some rounds as he builds up to his next big challenge.
Vargas (29-3-2, 14 KOs), a welterweight fighting on the fringes of the division for much of his career, will be looking to get in his way.
Here's how to catch the action.
Khan vs. Vargas Fight Info
When: Saturday, Sept. 8 at approx. 5 p.m. ET/10 p.m. UK (full card begins earlier)
Where: Arena Birmingham in Birmingham, England
TV: Sky Sports Action,Sky Sports Main Event (UK only)
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com and updated as of Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7 a.m. ET.
Make no mistake, Khan is wholly expected to beat Vargas on Saturday night. The bout is serving as a stepping stone for a bigger fight, potentially against Kell Brook, a fellow Englishman who confronted Khan in the ring after his fight against Lo Greco, per Sky Boxing:
I'LL DESTROY KHAN! @SpecialKBrook remains confident that he will 'destroy' @amirkingkhan should the pair finally meet in the ring...
Khan and Brook can probably make that fight when they want it, and cash a good paycheck from it thanks to their star power in England, but there's some more work that needs to be done in the ring.
Khan can't just go directly from dusting off Lo Greco to taking on one of the top fighters at 147 pounds. That leaves Vargas, who may have one fewer loss than Khan does in his career but hasn't fought nearly the same level of competition.
The 29-year-old Colombian had his shots at stardom, taking on Errol Spence in Jr in 2015 and Danny Garcia the next year. Both opponents scored technical knockouts at Vargas' expense, stopping any chance at making a bigger name for himself.
Vargas is coming off a draw against the unheralded Mauro Maximiliano Godoy, which doesn't bode well for his chances against a motivated, and surgically-repaired, Khan.
The 31-year-old Brit says that he's been struggling with a long-term right-hand injury ever since his second pro fight, per SportingNews.com's Chris Walker.
The nearly two-year hiatus after the Alvarez loss gave him time to get the hand fixed up, and he told Walker "my last fight with Lo Greco is the first time you’ve seen me with two good hands since the early days of my career."
Here's what that new-and-improved Khan looked like, per ESPN:
If Khan has been fighting at a disadvantage for most of his career, then surely Brook and other potential challengers in the division will have to be on notice.
Khan's calling card has always been his brilliant hand speed. It was good enough to give the naturally-bigger Alvarez some trouble before the Mexican restored order with a picture-perfect overhand right to the chin. Combine increased power and a mind unrestrained by the thought of injury with that speed, and you have the makings of a potent boxer.
There is danger in any fight for a boxer who has had his brain short-circuited like Khan did against Alvarez. There's the chance that each successive knockout will come a bit easier. Khan has already lost three times by stoppage in his career, so he can't be reckless against Vargas, and he will have to show that he's capable of a strong defense and a sturdy chin if he takes on better boxers.
Back in England for the second time after spending several years fighting mostly in the United States, Khan is poised for a good run in the welterweight ranks if he can put all the pieces together. Though on Saturday night, it's more than OK if it takes him longer than 39 seconds to solve the puzzle.
Shawn Porter vs. Danny Garcia: Fight Odds, Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info
Sep 6, 2018
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 05: Shawn Porter works out and speaks to the press during the media workout event for his upcoming Welterweight title fight against Danny Garcia at Gleason's Gym on September 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images)
Shawn Porter (28-2-1, 17 KOs) may be from Akron, Ohio, and live in Las Vegas, but he's turning the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, into something of a home arena.
The high-octane fighter is a consistent crowd pleaser and will fight at Barclays for the fourth straight time on Saturday night when he takes on Danny Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs) for the vacant WBC world welterweight title.
The WBC world title at 147 pounds had belonged to Keith Thurman, but injury forced him to relinquish the belt as he couldn't make a mandatory defense against Porter, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.
Now, Porter will have to go through Garcia, who is looking to win back the WBC belt after losing it in a unification bout against, you guessed it, Thurman, in March 2017.
The winner of this fight will then assume a commanding role in boxing's most talented and entertaining division, and likely assure himself of another couple of big paydays.
Odds: Garcia -165 (bet $100 to win $165), Porter +135 (bet $135 to win $100)
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com and updated as of Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7 a.m. ET.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 05: Danny Garcia works out and speaks to the press during the media workout event for his upcoming Welterweight title fight against Shawn Porter at Gleason's Gym on September 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty
Garcia, 30, is the favorite in this bout, but not by much. He has some impressive scalps on his resume—Amir Khan, Zab Judah, Lamont Peterson and Robert Guerrero to name a few—and he carved out an impressive amateur career before turning pro in 2007.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxpKpqqAVlI
Thurman remains his lone loss, in a split-decision bout that saw him lose rounds early only to surge late as Thurman's focus waned.
He may not be a natural welterweight, but he showed an ability to trade bombs with one of the harder punchers in Thurman. Against Porter, he may not get hit as hard, but he also won't likely have much time to collect himself if he does.
Porter is as relentless as they come in the ring. He's all offense from the first bell to the last, and there's no question that he will use his aggressive style to try to bully Garcia and make him uncomfortable on Saturday night. Porter's confirmed it himself.
"You have to know what to do against me and not too many people have been able to figure it out," said Porter, per Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole. "One thing against me, you will get pushed backward. There's no secret in that. So what do you do when you get pushed back? What do you do when you have to take a step back?"
It's the question Porter often asks of his opponent, and most guys don't figure it out. Thurman and Kell Brook are the only two to convince the judges they got the better of Porter after 12 rounds. Garcia will look to become the third, but he will have to find a way to neutralize Porter's attack.
SportingNews.com's Franklin McNeil believes Garcia has the weapon to do just that—a stiff jab that's good enough to stop a hard-charging boxer like Porter in his tracks:
"He possesses one of the best jabs in boxing. Porter's aggressive in-your-face style will give Garcia the perfect opportunity to apply his stinging left jab immediately. If Garcia puts his jab to work from the opening bell, it will help prevent a slow start.
"Porter will do whatever he can to make this an ugly bout and get the action to the ropes, where he can smother Garcia's punches. But Garcia can answer that approach by sticking his jab in Porter's face repeatedly and keeping the action in the middle of the ring, more importantly, off the ropes."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX7Hczuif30
Thurman also has an interesting breakdown over at Bad Left Hook. He gives Porter an edge on speed and physical strength, Garcia an edge on defense and punch power, while calling it even in the chin and ring IQ categories.
It's a sound assessment, as these two really do operate at the same high level, but Thurman does go on to say that he thinks Porter can pull this one off: "This is one of the best matchups of the year. I try not to overthink it. It's Porter by decision or Garcia only by KO. I lean toward Porter."
Garcia is a fine counterpuncher, and if Porter gets sloppy and leaves his head hanging out there a split-second too long, the Philadelphia-born fighter is liable to detonate on him. That said, Garcia isn't much of a knockout artist, and Porter was able to withstand Thurman's power in impressive fashion. He didn't shy away from the harder hitter.
For his part, Porter will look to get Garcia to drown under a barrage of punches and keep him from getting in any sort of rhythm as the bout progresses.
The winner of this bout should see some excellent opportunities come their way. From Errol Spence to Bud Crawford to an on-the-mend Thurman, this division offers plenty of opportunities for high-profile bouts.
Garcia and Porter will both hope to be the one to make that happen. And hey, it might even be at Barclays Center again.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthysse: Knockout Video Replay, Fight Stats, Reaction
Jul 15, 2018
Lucas Matthysse, left, of Argentina falls after receiving a punch by Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines during their WBA World welterweight title bout in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. Filipino boxing legend Pacquiao clinched his 60th victory Sunday with a seventh-round knockout of Matthysse, his first stoppage in nine years, that will help revive his career. (AP Photo/Yam G-Jun)
Manny Pacquiao, 39 years old and 23 years into his professional boxing career, proved his doubters wrong on Sunday. A year removed from a frustrating, controversial decision loss to Jeff Horn, Pacquiao is once again a champion as he scored a seventh-round TKO win over Lucas Matthysse at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The win is the 60th of Pacquiao's career and earned him the WBA "regular" world welterweight title (Keith Thurman remains the WBA "super" champion at 147 pounds).
It was the Filipino legend's first win by stoppage since he knocked out Miguel Cotto in May of 2009, a statistic that sounds impossible for those who remember his prime but only demonstrates how far removed Pacquiao is from his peak form and why some question why he still chooses to fight.
Perhaps it's because he knows he can still beat the right fighter. Matthysse has been a threat for much of his career, with 39 wins (36 by stoppage) in his career, but he looked slow, flat-footed and completely lost against a fighter four years his senior. He wasn't big enough to bully Pacquiao (like Horn did for a few rounds) or quick enough to string together combinations. He boxed at a middle distance, and was a sitting duck for most of the bout.
As the CompuBox fight stats show, it was an overwhelming display from Pac-Man:
The knockout in the seventh was no fluke either; it was Matthysse's third trip to the canvas. The left-handed uppercut—a punch that was working throughout the fight for Pacquiao—was nearly a carbon copy of the one that sent Matthysse crumpling in the third round, per Top Rank Boxing:
The Argentinean never saw it coming. With his head leaning forward over his top foot and his guard way up, Matthysse put himself in the ideal position for a power shot like that, and Pacquiao split the gloves and delivered.
The fifth-round knockdown saw Pacquiao land a short right hook to the temple. Matthysse appeared to absorb the blow, but a couple of seconds later he dropped to one knee, initiating a count from the referee. The punch was somewhat similar to the one that Viktor Postol used to earn a knockout win over Matthysse in 2015.
The throwback display from Pacquiao earned cautious praise from Ring's Tom Gray:
1/2 As always, a privilege to watch @mannypacquiao do his job. LEVELS above Matthysse and found openings with the ease of a teenager using a toddlers block puzzle #PacquiaoMatthysse#boxing
2/2 The downside of the @mannypacquiao victory is the possibility of him being thrown in with someone who has too much for him. I think a Jeff Horn rematch in Malaysia would be a perfect (and deserved) ending #PacquiaoMatthysse#boxing
Some like boxing journalist Andreas Hale and FightNights.com chalked up the ease with which Pacquiao controlled the fight to Matthysse's inability to pose a threat:
You have to throw punches while Pacquiao is throwing and catch him coming in. If you wait, he’s already gone.
My main thought from last night is that Manny Pacquiao had a washed up, perfect style opponent for him. It doesn’t change my opinion that Crawford, Loma, or Spence beat him.
"Sometimes you just need to rest and get it back, and that's what I did."
Pacquiao did take a year between fights, but another year off would put him well past 40 years old. If he wants to cash in on the victory, he will have to set something up sooner. Matthysse hardly looked like his best self, which does make Pacquiao's true form hard to gauge, but he at least looked supremely fit and hungry for more.
It's clear Pacquiao and his promoters have the foundation for another big fight. He might even get back to pay-per-view status if he takes on a boxer like Thurman, Terence Crawford or Errol Spence Jr.
Whether he should take on those guys or not is another question entirely, but this version of Pacquiao hardly looked like a boxer ready to quit.
Pacquiao vs. Matthysse: Tale of Tape, Fight Records and More for Both Boxers
Jul 14, 2018
Philippine senator and boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, left, and Argentine World Boxing Association welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse pose after weigh-ins in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, July 14, 2018. Matthysse and Pacquiao are scheduled to fight on July 15, for the World Boxing Association welterweight title in Malaysia. (AP Photo/Yam G-Jun)
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is playing the role of challenger when he takes on Lucas Matthysse for the WBA "regular" welterweight title at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday night.
Pacquiao is one year removed from a controversial, unanimous-decision loss to Jeff Horn, a match that saw Pac Man outhit his opponent and nearly knock him out late, only to see the judges award Horn a victory in his hometown of Brisbane, Australia.
Matthysse won his world title in January with a knockout win over Tewa Kiram (Keith Thurman is the WBA "super" welterweight champ but has been out of action since March 2017). The Argentine is a pressure fighter with a penchant for stopping bouts early.
The champion should prove a tough test for Pacquiao, who has lost four of his past nine bouts and is also a sitting senator in his native Philippines.
The fight will be live-streamed in the U.S. on ESPN+, with the undercard beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Philippines' Manny Pacquiao (L) and Argentina's Lucas Matthysse pose for pictures after the weigh-in event in Kuala Lumpur on July 14, 2018, ahead of their world welterweight boxing championship bout on July 15. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP) (Photo
For whatever reason, Pacquiao can't bring himself to walk away from the ring for good. Whether it's pride—going out on that loss to Horn would be tough to stomach—monetary concerns or simply an addiction to pugilism, Pacquiao is nearly 40 and still lacing them up.
He's no longer the fearsome fighter he was in his prime, as his last knockout came against Miguel Cotto in 2009. As Andreas Hale wrote for Sporting News, the Pacquiao who lost to Horn was a far cry from the best version of himself:
"Horn should have never been in a position to hang with Pacquiao. But this wasn't the Pacquiao who obliterated the opposition with a devastating combination of power and speed. The point was accentuated by the ease that [Terence] Crawford dismantled Horn when the two met on June 9. It was utter domination by Crawford en route to an emphatic and merciful 9th round stoppage."
Before the loss to Horn, Pacquiao beat Jessie Vargas handily and then toyed around with Timothy Bradley Jr. in the third fight of a trilogy nobody asked for. Prior to those bouts was the megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., which Pacquaio lost in deflating fashion in front of the entire globe.
Age is taking its toll, but it hasn't completely sapped Pacquiao of his greatness.
Philippines' Manny Pacquiao (C) attends the weigh-in in Kuala Lumpur on July 14, 2018, ahead of his world welterweight boxing championship bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP) (Photo credit should read M
With that said, Matthysse is the kind of fighter who could have Pacquiao rethinking his late-career forays between the ropes with just one punch. Matthysse has an 82 percent knockout rate, per BoxRec. Only two of his 39 wins have come by decision, the most recent a split-decision win over Ruslan Provodnikov in 2015. At 35, he's not too far behind Pacquiao in years, but he's still clobbering his lesser opponents.
Matthysse has never reached the upper echelon of the sport, with losses to Viktor Postol (by way of knockout) and Danny Garcia keeping him from breaking into the top tier. Still, he's a dangerous boxer and his trainer, Joel Diaz, is confident that his power will give Pacquiao trouble.
"All I can say is this...it's not going to be an easy fight for Manny Pacquiao," Diaz said, per the Associated Press (h/t USA Today). "If Lucas lands any punches on Pacquiao, he will hurt him because he hits real hard."
The oddsmakers are going with Pacquiao's pedigree and skill in this one, though not overwhelmingly so. According to OddsShark.com, Pac Man is the -210 favorite (bet $100 to win $210) as of Saturday morning.
Though Matthysse has a recent knockout loss on his resume, it's hard to imagine Pacquiao getting his first KO in nearly a decade in this bout. Matthysse's power will keep the Filipino fighter at bay, and he will have to utilize his speed and quick combinations to score points with the judges.
Matthysse is too smart to overestimate his opponent and will likely be hoping he can land the big punches and, if needed, the kill shot in the later rounds. If he does, it would be a career-defining victory for him.
If Pacquiao emerges victorious, the only eight-division world champion will have a major belt yet again, though it's not as clear why he needs it and whom he would fight next and when.
Pacquiao vs. Matthysse: Early Fight Predictions and More
Jul 9, 2018
Philippine senator and boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, left, and Argentine WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse pose for photographers as they hold the WBA welterweight champion belt during a press conference in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The two are scheduled to fight on July 15, in a World Boxing Association welterweight title fight in Malaysia. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
One year after a shocking defeat, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring as a challenger when he takes on Lucas Matthysse in a welterweight title fight on July 15 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
When fans last saw Pacquiao between the ropes, he was at the wrong end of one of the more controversial decisions in recent years. Having spent 12 rounds outhitting and outworking up-and-coming Australian boxer Jeff Horn (in the latter's hometown of Brisbane), the Filipino was handed a unanimous-decision loss by the judges.
The result—no matter how unfair it seemed to many—was reviewed and upheld by the WBO, which saw him lose his WBO world welterweight title he had won just two fights earlier against Timothy Bradley Jr. and left his boxing future in doubt.
But it appears the 39-year-old is not yet finished with the sport, and he will look to add another world title to his resume when he takes on Matthysse, who holds the World Boxing Association world welterweight strap.
While PacMan tends to command a pay-per-view event, it might be easier for fans to check him out this time around. According to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, the fight will stream live on ESPN+, the sports giant's subscription streaming service.
It was intended to be pay-per-view, but Rafael reports MP Promotions, Pacquiao's promoter, missed several deadlines to make it a pay-per-view.
Here's what you need to know to catch the bout.
Fight Info
Date: Sunday, July 15
Time: Undercard at 9 p.m. ET (Saturday), main event no earlier than 11 p.m. ET
Matthysse is going to be a tough obstacle for Pacquiao in the latter's quest to win another world title. The 35-year-old Argentine is a fearless boxer with plenty of power, as evidenced by his 82 percent knockout rate.
While he's lost to most of his prominent opponents—Viktor Postol, Zab Judah, Danny Garcia have each handed him defeats—he's taken on some fine contenders and won.
He beat a then-undefeated Ajose Olusegun in 2012 to win his first world title in the super lightweight ranks. Matthysse has also earned stoppage wins over Lamont Peterson, Roberto Ortiz and John Molina Jr.
He has never quite cracked the upper echelon, but he's a fine gatekeeper and should provide a test for the aging Pacquiao.
Matthysse will look to bully Pacquiao and will probably be looking for the knockout in the middle rounds.
The Argentine, coming off a KO-win over Thailand's Tewa Kiram, no doubt respects Pacquiao's ability and status, but he generally likes to fight aggressively and get his opponents to wilt under a steady barrage of power punches.
He may try to feel out Pacquiao for a round or two longer than he might other opponents, but he will be loathe to give the veteran a chance to win this one on the cards.
"He has so much power in his punches that if he hits you with a left, he hits you with a right, he hurts you," said his trainer, Joel Diaz, per ABS-CBN.com.
"That's why I'm so confident that sooner or later, Manny Pacquiao has to exchange with Lucas, and if he catches him with either hand, it'll hurt."
This photo taken on May 17, 2018 shows Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao during a training session at a gym in Manila, ahead of his world welterweight boxing championship bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse in July. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)
In his younger days, Pacquiao was a torrent of fists and fury, and he was just as much a threat to end a fight early as he was to dazzle the judges and win the scorecard.
But it's been nine years since Pacquiao has won a fight by stoppage, when he knocked out Miguel Cotto in 2009. Since then, he's 9-4 as a fighter, with one of those losses coming by way of knockout, when Juan Manuel Marquez flattened him in 2012.
With his powers diminishing for years, he is more likely to rely on years of experience and his great technique if he feels he cannot match Matthysse's power.
This is not to suggest the titleholder shouldn't be wary of Pacquiao's power. Matthysse has suffered one knockout defeat of his own in his career, to Postol in 2015. Nobody would mistake the awkwardly effective Postol for a knockout artist, and yet it was a straight right to the temple in the 10th round of their contest that proved too much for Matthysse.
Pacquiao looked like he was on the verge of a stoppage late in his fight against Horn, but the Aussie incredibly found another wind and remained in the match. The Filipino still knows how to string together a good barrage, but it's been awhile since he has sealed the deal.
The fact Pacquiao wasn't able to outright dominate Horn, who was clobbered in June in a stoppage loss to Terence Crawford, doesn't bode well for his prospects against the dangerous Matthysse.
This fight will be a close one, but look for Matthysse to pull off a mini-shocker and stop Pacquiao in the late rounds.
