Kuala Lumpur: Manny Pacquiao put on a dominant display to stun defending champion Lucas Matthysse with a seventh-round knockout and clinch the WBA welterweight title here, Sunday. This is also Pacquiao’s 11th world title in his illustrious career.
The 39-year-old Filipino, who was back in the ring again since his WBO welterweight title loss to unheralded Australian Jeff Horn in Brisbane a year ago, looked focused and busy from the opening bell and had the 15,000 fans at the Axiata Arena on their feet when he sent his Argentine opponent to the canvas three times in total with an array of clubbing blows.
The southpaw dropped his opponent for the final time with a brutal uppercut and the win, his first inside the distance since 2009, improved the eight-division World Champion’s overall record to 60-7-2.
“I’m surprised. Matthysse is a very tough opponent,” Pacquiao said after the match. “I knocked him down and that’s a bonus for being patient in the fight, and working hard in training.”
Pacquiao had set the pace early, probing for openings and moving menacingly around the ring as he dropped a defensive Matthysse for a first time in the third round with an uppercut.
Unable to gain a foothold against Pacquiao’s swarming attacks, Matthysse (39-5-1) looked to land on the counter but was forced to take a knee towards the end of the fifth round when he was visibly shaken by a right hook to the temple.
Referee Kenny Bayless called off the fight after two minutes and 43 seconds of the seventh round when Matthysse buckled following another stiff uppercut and spat out his mouthguard as he was being counted.