For fighters who have not personally experienced going up against Manny Pacquiao believe analyzing video and putting together game plans against sparring partners will help them prep for Manny Pacquiao.
Once those fighters survive the first round, they usually have a different perspective on Pacquiao’s speed and power.
It was the look on Lucas Matthysse’s face that said it all after the first round of their WBA Welterweight championship bout when the Argentine walked slowly to his corner after Pacquiao turned him into a punching bag in the opening round.
Matthysse looked pale, aghast and unbelieving of what he had just experienced.
In the early moments of the third, Pacquiao connected with a counter left hook that sent Matthysse to the canvass with his feet in the air-reminiscent of how Pacquiao decked Thailand’s Narongrit “Fahsan 3K Battery” Pirang in 2004. While Matthysse beat the Kenny Bayless count easily, it all began to unravel more rapidly from that point on.
It did appear, though, that Matthysse was on his way to winning the fifth round with timely hits to which Pacquiao was a tad late with his counter-punches, but in the final seconds of the round Matthysse took a hit from Pacquiao and suddenly knelt, prompting Bayless to apply another standing eight count.
It would be ruled as the second knockdown of the fight. It was as if the barrage of punches he received in the earlier portion took its toll later and Matthysse just could not wait for the bell. Of course, Pacquiao would finish matters in the seventh round (2:43 was the official time) to earn his 60th professional boxing victory and his first win via stoppage since Bayless also halted the bout against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in 2009.
It all goes back to how Matthyysse looked as he headed back to his corner in the first round.
Pacquiao’s speed and power and has not waned as much as his opponents think and Matthysse had the same look as other opponents such as Margarito (and Ricky Hatton, and Brandon Rios, and Chris Algieri and Jesse Vargas) when the first round was over.
Whoever Pacman fights next — Terrence Crawford, Danny Garcia, or maybe a redemption bout against Jeff Horn — cannot take Pacquiao’s speed lightly, even if Pacquiao is pushing 40.
Matthysse in the first round looked as if he saw a ghost. That’s the Pacquiao effect and it’s as potent as ever.