Golden Boy Promotions: Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthysse A Done Deal For July In Malaysia

Manny Pacquiao will indeed get his welterweight title fight against Lucas Matthysse with the help of a promoter other than Top Rank.

Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya, whose company promotes Matthysse, wrote on social media that Pacquiao will challenge for Matthysse’s WBA “regular” welterweight title on July 14 in Malaysia. According to Lance Pugmire of the LA Times, the fight will be broadcast on ESPN pay-per-view, but there is room for the possibility of moving the fight to July 21, pending talks with DirecTV that is expected to be finalized on April 3.

Pacquiao had been hoping to fight Matthysse ever since Matthysse won the WBA title in January against previously unbeaten Tewa Kiram on HBO. Pacquiao, who has not fought since losing his WBO welterweight title to Jeff Horn last year, was offered by Top Rank a fight against Mike Alvarado on the undercard of the Jeff Horn vs. Terence Crawford fight on April 14 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao rejected that fight and instead elected to go to Malaysia for a fight in the summer, trying to secure a fight against Matthysse.

Since rejecting the fight against Alvarado, Pacquiao and his camp has been acting independently from Top Rank, where Pacquiao had been signed to for years. According to Pacquiao’s camp, the former world champion’s promotional contract with Top Rank has expired, meaning a rematch against Horn is unlikely.

One thing that is yet to be seen is whether or not Pacquiao will have longtime trainer Freddie Roach in his corner for this bout. Roach has been instrumental to Pacquiao’s success and numerous world title wins.

Should Pacquiao pick up the win over Matthysse, manager Michael Koncz told the LA Times that Pacquiao is looking for a potential superfight at junior welterweight against Vasyl Lomachenko, who is challenging for Jorge Linares’ WBA lightweight title on ESPN on May 12 at Madison Square Garden.