• Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse stare each other down. Reuters
    Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse stare each other down. Reuters
  • Manny Pacquiao waves to his supporters as he arrives. EPA
    Manny Pacquiao waves to his supporters as he arrives. EPA
  • Supporters of Manny Pacquiao cheer as he arrives. EPA
    Supporters of Manny Pacquiao cheer as he arrives. EPA
  • Manny Pacquiao reacts after weight-in. EPA
    Manny Pacquiao reacts after weight-in. EPA
  • Lucas Matthysse has his weight checked. EPA
    Lucas Matthysse has his weight checked. EPA
  • Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse face off. AP Photo
    Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse face off. AP Photo
  • Manny Pacquiao gets weighed as supporters and officials watch on. Reuters
    Manny Pacquiao gets weighed as supporters and officials watch on. Reuters
  • Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse pose with Oscar Dela Hoya. Reuters
    Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse pose with Oscar Dela Hoya. Reuters

Manny Pacquiao 'ready' to regain title after weigh-in with Lucas Matthysse


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Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao weighed in Saturday comfortably under the 147-pound (67-kilogramme) limit and said he was "ready" to win back the welterweight belt against WBA champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina.

Pacquiao, the only man to have won world titles in eight weight divisions in a glittering 23-year career, tipped the scales at 146 pounds.

"I am ready. Everything is under control," said the 39-year-old Pacquiao. "I am motivated, I am happy and I am hungry."

The heavily tattooed Matthysse played up his one-inch height advantage by looking down on Pacquiao as the two came face-to-face for the last time before Sunday's 12-round showdown in Kuala Lumpur.

"I am feeling good," Matthysse said as he was about to demolish a fruit platter for his post weigh-in meal after coming in the heavier man, just under the limit at 146.7 pounds.

"I made the weight, I'm ready to eat and I'm ready for the battle tomorrow."

The weigh-in was held in mildly chaotic scenes at a packed auditorium in the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Hundreds of mainly Filipino fans pushed forward to get a glimpse of the fighters as they left prompting fears the stage might collapse under their weight before order was restored.

Manny Pacquiao training - in pictures

  • Manny Pacquiao arrives at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA welterweight title fight against champion Lucas Matthysse on 15 July. EPA
    Manny Pacquiao arrives at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA welterweight title fight against champion Lucas Matthysse on 15 July. EPA
  • Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. AFP
    Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. AFP
  • Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. AFP
    Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. AFP
  • epa06879847 Filipino senator and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao (C) runs through some exercises at a gym in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11 July 2018. Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse have arrived in Malaysia ahead of the WBA welterweight championship fight, dubbed 'Fight of the Champions', which will take place in Kuala Lumpur on 15 July 2018. EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL
    epa06879847 Filipino senator and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao (C) runs through some exercises at a gym in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11 July 2018. Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse have arrived in Malaysia ahead of the WBA welterweight championship fight, dubbed 'Fight of the Champions', which will take place in Kuala Lumpur on 15 July 2018. EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL
  • Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. AFP
    Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. AFP
  • Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. EPA
    Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. EPA
  • Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. EPA
    Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session at a gym in Kuala Lumpur ahead of his WBA world welterweight bout against Argentina's Lucas Matthysse on July 15. EPA

Pacquiao is challenging "The Machine" Matthysse for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt at the Axiata Arena on Sunday, knowing defeat could lower the curtain on one of the greatest careers in boxing history.

Pacquiao faced calls to retire from friends, family and even his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach when he lost the WBO belt to journeyman Australian Jeff Horn a year ago.

Roach has been replaced for the fight by Pacquiao's long-term friend and cornerman Buboy Fernandez and another defeat could see the veteran "Pac-Man" hang up his gloves for good.

But victory for Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) would see him become a five-time welterweight world champion and extend his legendary status and his life in the ring beyond his 40th birthday in December.

Pacquiao is going for his 60th victory since turning pro in 1995, but despite winning 38 of his first 47 fights by knockout, he has not stopped an opponent in nine years.

Knock-out specialist Matthysse has finished 36 of his 39 wins inside the distance and took the vacant WBA belt after an eighth-round stoppage of Thailand's Teerachai Sithmorseng in January.

But the last time he faced an opponent of Pacquiao's calibre he was knocked out in the 10th round by Ukrainian super lightweight world champion Viktor Postol in 2015.

Matthysse suffered a fractured left eye socket after taking a beating from Postol that put him out of boxing for 19 months and this is only his third fight since.

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Read more:

In pictures: Manny Pacquiao trains ahead of title showdown with Lucas Matthysse

Manny Pacquiao says retirement decision could hinge on fight with Lucas Matthysse

Manny Pacquiao says he will box on after Lucas Matthyse fight

Lucas Matthysse vows fight 'to the death' against Pacman

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A strong undercard features three world title fights. The interim World Boxing Association featherweight belt is on the line when Mexico's Edivaldo Ortega (26-1-1, 16 KOs) fights unbeaten and highly rated Filipino prospect Jhack Tepora (21-0, 16 KOs).

Vastly experienced South African Moruti "Baby Face" Mthalane (35-2, 24 KOs) defends his International Boxing Federation flyweight title against the unbeaten Pakistani Muhammad Waseem (8-0, 6 KOs).

Carlos Canizares of Venezuela (20-0-1, 16 KOs) puts his WBA light flyweight title and unbeaten record on the line against Chinese rookie Lu Bin (1-0, 1 KO), who could become the first boxer in history to win a world title in his second professional fight.