BoxRec

Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring to challenge secondary welterweight world titleholder Lucas Matthysse on July 14 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, both sides said Monday night.

"Signed, sealed, and delivered: Proud to officially announce that WBA welterweight world champion Lucas Matthysse will put his title on the line against Manny Pacquiao in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday night July 14 (U.S. time)," Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya, who promotes Matthysse, wrote on his social media.

Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz told ESPN that the kickoff news conference to announce the fight is scheduled for April 18 in Manila in Pacquiao's home country of the Philippines, with another scheduled for April 20 in Kuala Lumpur.

Pacquiao will go into the fight without his longtime trainer, International Boxing Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, overseeing his camp or corner. Koncz said Pacquiao has replaced Roach with Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao's lifelong friend and the career-long assistant trainer who has been with him for every fight.

Although Pacquiao's longtime promoter, Top Rank, is not promoting the event -- that will be handled by Pacquiao's MP Promotions -- Bob Arum's company will handle the television distribution of the fight. That distribution will include an ESPN platform to be determined in the United States, be it ESPN, the new ESPN+ streaming service or pay-per-view. Because of the 12-hour time difference between Malaysia and the United States East Coast, the fight will take place on Sunday morning, July 15, Kuala Lumpur time for a prime-time broadcast in the U.S., Koncz said.

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id ... r-malaysia

Too late, it could be the spectacle five years ago.

ValMar wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 12:11 Too late, it could be the spectacle five years ago.

I honestly think it's a better fight now than it would've been 5 years ago. Both at their best Pacquiao is significantly better than Matthysse, and would've tore him up pretty easily. Neither are at their best now, and I think they've faded in such ways that it's honestly about as good a fight now as it ever could've been.

Matthysse still has the power, and he's younger so Manny's speed advantage over him might not be what it would've been 5 years ago. Pac is still the way more skilled boxer so he should be able to outbox Matthysse most of the way still, but Matthysse is the bigger hitter at this stage of their careers so if somebody is getting knocked out it'd be Pac I think.

I think this is a fight that the aging of the two fighters may have possibly made better. It happens that way sometimes.

AJ vs Wlad for instance might not have been the fight it was if it had taken place at any other stage in their respective careers.

The world won't be watching, but it's still an interesting and probably entertaining fight.

Both have slipped, but Matthysse has that power and Pacquiao has become more and more hittable.

It's light years better than Manny vs Alvarado.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 14:23 The world won't be watching, but it's still an interesting and probably entertaining fight.

Both have slipped, but Matthysse has that power and Pacquiao has become more and more hittable.

It's light years better than Manny vs Alvarado.

Dumb comment. Pacquiao/Horn did amazing numbers. This would probably break records if it's free. Most likely, it's PPV, though.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 14:42

SenorPipino wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 14:23 The world won't be watching, but it's still an interesting and probably entertaining fight.

Both have slipped, but Matthysse has that power and Pacquiao has become more and more hittable.

It's light years better than Manny vs Alvarado.

Dumb comment. Pacquiao/Horn did amazing numbers. This would probably break records if it's free. Most likely, it's PPV, though.

My dumb comment pretty much refers to the fact that Pacquiao is no longer the must see attraction that he was during his heyday.

That's why Arum had no problem putting Pacquiao on free home television against Horn and then scheduling him for an undercard bout against journeyman Alvarado.

The interest level in Pacquiao these days is hardly comparable to what it was a few years back.

This would probably be a pretty entertaining fight.

lot of ring savvy between these two guys. I think it will be great, especially minus all of the ridiculous hype!

i think its a good match up give where there at now, one of the best they could be in, very appropriate matchmaking imo

Plenty to like about this fight. Will be interested to see where Pacquiao is at after his loss to Horn.

jpspice wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 22:44 lot of ring savvy between these two guys. I think it will be great, especially minus all of the ridiculous hype!

Why isn't there going to be ridiculous hype?

Love Pacquiao, but I think he'll get starched.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 14:42

SenorPipino wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 14:23 The world won't be watching, but it's still an interesting and probably entertaining fight.

Both have slipped, but Matthysse has that power and Pacquiao has become more and more hittable.

It's light years better than Manny vs Alvarado.

Dumb comment. Pacquiao/Horn did amazing numbers. This would probably break records if it's free. Most likely, it's PPV, though.

Hey Mex! I hate to disagree with you, but in this case I do. Not a dumb commentary at all. Respectfully.

i hate to see shells of former glory.

oogiebe wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 11:11 Love Pacquiao, but I think he'll get starched.

Did you see Matthysse's last fight? If not you really should watch it. Up until he won by KO he looked like sh*t.

man wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 11:14 i hate to see shells of former glory.

I used to feel that way, but now I think I'm just intrigued by watching Fighters careers plays out through every stage. So many great fighters have a dramatic rise to stardom, and equally dramatic fall back down to Earth. It's an interesting cycle to watch, and it repeats itself with great regularity in the sport.

The few guys smart enough to call it a day at the right time are few and far between.

I can't honestly fault the fighters either, I mean...once it's all over what are you supposed to do with yourself for the next 30 or 40 years? If Boxing is what you love, and you enjoy it, hell...that's life right?

oogiebe wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 11:12

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 14:42

SenorPipino wrote: ↑04 Apr 2018, 14:23 The world won't be watching, but it's still an interesting and probably entertaining fight.

Both have slipped, but Matthysse has that power and Pacquiao has become more and more hittable.

It's light years better than Manny vs Alvarado.

Dumb comment. Pacquiao/Horn did amazing numbers. This would probably break records if it's free. Most likely, it's PPV, though.

Hey Mex! I hate to disagree with you, but in this case I do. Not a dumb commentary at all. Respectfully.

Thanks oogiebe. You can have a pint on me any day.

All you have to do is look at Pacquiao's PPV numbers since the Mayweather fight to realizar that he's no longer the must-see attraction that he once was.

The PPPV numbers had been frequently under 400,000 before he went to free ESPN.

Yes, the ratings were good for the Horn fight. It simply means that Pacquiao is still a name and the curious will still tune in to watch him. But only for free. They won't pay for it.

And while Matthysse is a better draw than Horn, he has never been a PPV star, not even in his pre-Garcia days.

Matthysse-Pacquiao will be on some form of ESPN PPV. Either streamed or traditional.

It won't be a big seller. Maybe it cracks 400,000 but probably under.

The days of everyone tuning in to see Manny Pacquiao are over.

We'll see how the ratings for this one do. I do kinda expect it'll be less than Pac vs Horn was, but I'm curious to see for sure...especially if they put on just plain 'ol ESPN.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:04 We'll see how the ratings for this one do. I do kinda expect it'll be less than Pac vs Horn was, but I'm curious to see for sure...especially if they put on just plain 'ol ESPN.

Should be standard ESPN.. Arum would only do PPV if Manny co'd with Crawford..

It MIGHT be on ESPN+, apps launching this month.. monthly subscription of $4.99.. Khan-Lo Greco will be on ESPN+

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:07

gilgamesh wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:04 We'll see how the ratings for this one do. I do kinda expect it'll be less than Pac vs Horn was, but I'm curious to see for sure...especially if they put on just plain 'ol ESPN.

Should be standard ESPN.. Arum would only do PPV if Manny co'd with Crawford..

It MIGHT be on ESPN+, apps launching this month.. monthly subscription of $4.99.. Khan-Lo Greco will be on ESPN+

I've read on numerous outlets that the fight will definitely be on some form of PPV---Either the new $4.99 ESPN + APP that you mentioned or regular PPV.

It's certain that the bout will NOT be on free broadcast ESPN.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 15:54

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:07

gilgamesh wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:04 We'll see how the ratings for this one do. I do kinda expect it'll be less than Pac vs Horn was, but I'm curious to see for sure...especially if they put on just plain 'ol ESPN.

Should be standard ESPN.. Arum would only do PPV if Manny co'd with Crawford..

It MIGHT be on ESPN+, apps launching this month.. monthly subscription of $4.99.. Khan-Lo Greco will be on ESPN+

I've read on numerous outlets that the fight will definitely be on some form of PPV---Either the new $4.99 ESPN + APP that you mentioned or regular PPV.

It's certain that the bout will NOT be on free broadcast ESPN.

Daft that.. Pac vs. Horn drew some good numbers. Was good to see Pac on free tv..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:07

gilgamesh wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:04 We'll see how the ratings for this one do. I do kinda expect it'll be less than Pac vs Horn was, but I'm curious to see for sure...especially if they put on just plain 'ol ESPN.

Should be standard ESPN.. Arum would only do PPV if Manny co'd with Crawford..

It MIGHT be on ESPN+, apps launching this month.. monthly subscription of $4.99.. Khan-Lo Greco will be on ESPN+

It was officially announced today that the Crawford-Horn fight will be on the newly launched ESPN+ app.

So no freebie. As you said it's $4.99 per month with a special $49.99 if you sign up for a year.

They plan to broadcast quite a few Top Rank cards that won't be shown on regular ESPN.

With the introduction of this PPV app, it's likely we won't see the biggest names on ESPN anymore, once Lomachenko-Linares is history.

Pacquiao, Lomachenko and Crawford will all once again disappear into the PPV universe.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑09 Apr 2018, 22:42

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:07

gilgamesh wrote: ↑05 Apr 2018, 12:04 We'll see how the ratings for this one do. I do kinda expect it'll be less than Pac vs Horn was, but I'm curious to see for sure...especially if they put on just plain 'ol ESPN.

Should be standard ESPN.. Arum would only do PPV if Manny co'd with Crawford..

It MIGHT be on ESPN+, apps launching this month.. monthly subscription of $4.99.. Khan-Lo Greco will be on ESPN+

It was officially announced today that the Crawford-Horn fight will be on the newly launched ESPN+ app.

So no freebie. As you said it's $4.99 per month with a special $49.99 if you sign up for a year.

They plan to broadcast quite a few Top Rank cards that won't be shown on regular ESPN.

With the introduction of this PPV app, it's likely we won't see the biggest names on ESPN anymore, once Lomachenko-Linares is history.

Pacquiao, Lomachenko and Crawford will all once again disappear into the PPV universe.

Probably worth the 49.99 a year to see these.
I'm ordering it

There's going to be a ton of live boxing on it.

A boxing studio show will be developed.

Includes the full library of classic fights owned by ESPN and Top Rank.

So yeah, $50 a year isn't a bad deal..

Does anyone know more about this: