Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 13 July 2018
Pacquiao predicts action-filled fight against Matthysse

By EILEEN NG ously predicted a "50/50"
Associated Press chance of winning for ei-
KUALA LUMPUR, Malay- ther but he said he be-
sia (AP) — Filipino boxing lieved Matthysse is more
icon Manny Pacquiao said focused while Pacquiao
Thursday he is prepared has other distractions out-
for an action-packed fight side boxing that could be
against aggressive Argen- disadvantage him.
tinian Lucas Matthysse in Beyond boxing and politics,
Sunday's world title bout Pacquiao has also dabbled
that could put his illustrious in basketball, business, TV
career at stake. hosting, acting and singing.
Pacquiao, who turns 40 in His most recent venture
December, returns to the is into cryptocurrency, as
ring a year after losing his an investor in Singapore-
World Boxing Organiza- based blockchain firm
tion welterweight title in a Global Crypto Offering Ex-
shock defeat to Australia's change (GCOX). Pacquiao
Jeff Horn in Brisbane. will next month launch his
Pacquiao said he chose to "PAC Token," becoming
fight Matthysse, the current the latest athlete to launch
World Boxing Association a virtual currency following
welterweight champion, Argentine WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse speaks as Philippine senator and Floyd Mayweather and for-
because the Argentinian is boxing hero Manny Pacquiao smiles during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, mer England striker Michael
Thursday, July 12, 2018.
aggressive and they could Associated Press Owen.
both provide "a lot of ac- The token can be used to
tion" in the ring. dent Filipino Duterte, who dropped in the run-up to he hasn't faced the 'great buy exclusive Pacquiao
"It's going to be a good will arrive in Malaysia to the Malaysian fight and machine', Lucas Mat- merchandise and interact
fight," Pacquiao said at a watch the bout ahead of replaced with former as- thysse," he said, referring to with him via live-streaming,
news conference. "I don't an official visit. sistant coach and friend his moniker. "If he decides and its value is supposed to
care if he has 36 knock- "Pacman" Pacquiao, 39, Buboy Fernandez. to retire, that's his decision. be indicative of his popu-
outs...it's about your talent has won 59 times, includ- Matthysse told the news I'm here to defend my title." larity.
and skill inside the ring. Let's ing 38 by knockout, and conference he is deter- Matthysse may be the un- "It's not easy but this is time
see on Sunday who will be lost seven times (three by mined to defend his title derdog but his trainer Joel management. I have good
the best." knockout) along with two and isn't concerned that it Diaz said "nothing is impos- people around me," said
A once impoverished ru- draws. Matthysse, 35, has could end Pacquiao's ca- sible." Pacquiao, when asked
ral boy who turned into 39 wins — 36 by knockout reer if the Filipino loses. He Matthysse "is not here to about his political career
one of the world's wealthi- — and four losses, one of said it has been his dream collect a pay check. He is and multiple interests.
est sportsman and now a them by knockout. since young to fight Pac- here to bring back his title "Right now, my focus is to
Filipino senator, Pacquiao's It will be the first time since quiao, an 11-time world to his country and his peo- fight on Sunday to give an
rags-to-riches story has in- 2001 that Pacquiao is fight- champion across eight di- ple," Diaz said. inspiration to the Filipino
spired many in his country. ing without longtime trainer visions. With both boxers beyond people and to my fans all
His biggest supporter on Freddie Roach, who was "He's a great champion but their prime, Diaz has previ- over the world."q
Sunday will be Filipino Presi-
Mickelson says he will try to act better on golf course

GULLANE, Scotland (AP) bogey putt on the 13th said. "You have to be
— Phil Mickelson wishes hole and hit it back toward accountable for yourself. I
he could take back the the hole to keep it rolling do a lot of dumb stuff."
moment when he swatted off the front of the green. Mickelson played the Ryder
a moving golf ball at the He was assessed a two- Cup course in Paris ahead
U.S. Open. shot penalty amid criticism of the Scottish Open, and
"But there's not much I that he should have been he went over to Carnoustie
can do about it now other disqualified for such a willful this week to start preparing
than just try to ... act a little violation. for next week's British
better," Mickelson said on In his next tournament, Open. He said the fans at
Thursday at the Scottish Mickelson tamped down Carnoustie treated him
Open. tall grass just beyond the well, and he wasn't worried
In his most extensive tee box at The Greenbrier about his reception coming
comments since he to play a low iron shot, off his U.S. Open behavior.
purposely violated the Rules and then immediately "I wasn't nervous.
of Golf at Shinnecock Hills, realized it might have been Phil Mickelson tees off at the 2nd, during day one of the I didn't know that I should
Mickelson said whatever a violation. He summoned Scottish Open golf tournament at Gullane Golf Club, East be," he said. "Most people
backlash he receives from a rules official, told him Lothian, Scotland, Thursday July 12, 2018. realize we all make
players and the public was what happened and was Associated Press mistakes. That was certainly
his own doing. penalized. blunder, sending out a Chicago for the Women's one of them."
Mickelson was sliding far "It's not been my best statement the following PGA Championship. Mickelson opened with an
out of contention in the month," Mickelson said. week and speaking about "It's much easier for me to even-par 70 at the Scottish
third round of the U.S. Open Mickelson has apologized it during a corporate- deal with it because it was Open and was in danger of
when he chased after a previously for the U.S. Open sponsored event in my own fault," Mickelson missing the cut.q