Pacquiao knocks out Matthysse, snags world welterweight title

Manny Pacquiao stares at Lucas Matthysse after sending him down with a left uppercut in the third round. REUTERS

MANILA – Manny Pacquiao turned back the clock.

The Argentine Lucas Matthysse was no match to the power of the Filipino eight-division champion.

Pacquiao took Matthysse down in a devastating technical knockout in Round 7 to claim the WBA welterweight belt on Sunday at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“The Pacman” scored knockdowns in the third and fifth rounds before unloading a finishing blow in the seventh as he made his return as the world welterweight victor.

It was Pacquiao’s first knockout win since clobbering Miguel Cotto in 2009 – and a redeeming feat after his unanimous-decision loss to the Australian Jeff Horn last year.

As Pacquiao unloaded volume punches on Matthysse’s body, the Argentine struggled to land his own against the much faster Filipino fighter.

It was in Round 6 when Pacquiao had the best chance to take down Matthysse – groggy with hits on the head and body – but the latter circled the former to survive the round.

Pacquiao landed harder and cleaner shots at the onset of Round 7. Matthysse hung around with limited attacks until the Filipino pug finished him off with a left uppercut.

Managing to knock out the “very tough” Matthysse came as a surprise to The Pacman.

The 35-year-old Argentine tried to play the loss down even as he admired his opponent.

“This is part of boxing. You win some, you lose some,” said Matthysse. “Manny Pacquiao is a great legend and I lose to a great fighter. I will take some time off from this.”/PN

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