Manny Pacquiao to fight for welterweight title

Manny Pacquiao is to fight for the WBA welterweight title.

The 39-year-old Filipino fighter will challenge title-holder Lucas Matthysse. He will face the Argentine on 14 July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Matthysse, 35, has won 36 of his 44 fights by knock-out.

Pacquiao has not fought since unanimously losing the WBO version of the belt on points to Australian Jeff Horn last July. In the meantime, he has become a senator in the Philippines and a colonel in the nation’s army.

He has replaced long term trainer Freddie Roach, who had been with since 2001, with Buboy Fernandez for the upcoming contest.

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