Pacquiao vs Matthysse Odds – Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao returns to action this Sunday night in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia a he faces Lucas Martin Matthysse.
Paquiao (59-7-2) will be looking for the 60th win of his career. Matthysse is bringing the WBA world welterweight title to the table for this one, having won it in his last outing this past January when he stopped Tewa Kiram to grab the vacant belt.
Pacquiao has donned his promoters hat for this one, marking the first time in a long time that he will be fighting outside of the Top Rank banner. Pacquiao will also be without the services of long time trainer Freddie Roach, as he has chosen to keep his training camp in the Philippines for this one. Both of those factors would seem to apply pressure to “Pac-man” as he approaches his fortieth birthday this December, but he has lived with that type of pressure for at least the last decade.
A win puts him back in the world title picture and you can bet that Bob Arum will call tossing the names of Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford around. Tewa Kiram of Thailand (38-1) lost to Matthysse but is still a credible regional opponent that Pacquiao could consider if h wants to extend his career. Answering the phone for Arum at this point puts him in fights he can no longer win.
Pacquiao will be 40 years old in December so it will be interesting to see which of his once elite skills of speed and movement are further eroded.
Also, you can check out “First Look at Pacquiao vs Matthysse Odds” right here at GMS. Pac-man is actually a wider favorite with the fight coming up than he was back in late May when that piece was written.
You have to assume that the Matthysse that will show up in Malaysia will be geared for the biggest fight of his life. Since his teenage years Matthysse has been friends and a boxing peer with Marcos Maidana, and both come up through the ranks in Argentina together. Maidana cashed in when he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr twice for big money and this fight with Pacquiao is symbolically that big moment for Matthysse.
Matthysse is no spring chicken, as he will turn 36 this September. Though Pacquiao has 25 more fights on his career and no one disputes that Pacquiao has had more wars, but Matthysse has seen it get down and dirty in his career as well.
Matthysse operated most of his career in lighter weight classes and he is not huge compared to some of the elite welterweights out there. When you consider Pacquiao’s last fight was his loss to Jeff Horn, where the size difference was noticeable the Pacquiao camp has done their matchmaking well.
But Matthysse will come aggressively and he is a big puncher. The over-under is set at 10 1/2 rounds, and it may not go that long. Both men have been prone to trading their entire careers and they don’t shy away from a fight so at some point they are going to be in front of each other firing away. For Matthysse fans, there is a live underdog who has won 36 fights by KO.
Pacquiao vs Matthysse Odds
Sunday 7/15 – Axiata Arena – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – ESPN+
Welterweight 12 rounds –
Lucas Martin Matthysse +165 o10½ -290
Manny Pacquiao -190 u10½ +245
Pacquiao vs Matthysse Odds / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science.
[related_post_one]
The Major League Baseball season is front and center. Check out the games daily!
