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Q&A: Lucas Matthysse

Fighters Network
28
Sep

[springboard type=”video” id=”1565619″ player=”ring003″ width=”648″ height=”511″ ]

Lucas Matthysse is arguably the best active fighter who has never won a world title. The heavy-handed Argentine is keen to amend that status when he faces Viktor Postol for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title on Saturday in Carson, California.

“Fighting for the title and becoming a world champion is a big opportunity for me and I’m very happy about that,” Matthysse told RingTV.com through Cecilia Zuniga of Golden Boy Promotions. “I’m excited and ready to be recognized as one of the best fighters in the world in my weight class.”

Matthysse (37-3, 34 knockouts) beat Ruslan Provodnikov in one of the leading candidates for Fight of the Year in April when he used his underrated boxing skills to pick off the dangerous Russian. Against Postol, it’s expected he’ll revert back to his pressure-fighting style.



“With Ruslan I boxed him because I knew the kind of fighter he was,” the recently turned 33-year-old explained. “I wanted to show I have other qualities and I believe I proved it – that I can box. With Postol, I’m prepared to do whatever I need to do in the ring and if I need to box him I will box him, if I need to seek and destroy I will seek and destroy.”

The fight will be shown on HBO at 10:15 p.m ET/PT and on BoxNation at 2:00 a.m. As well as Matthysse-Postol the undercard will feature unbeaten Antonio Orozco vs. grizzled veteran Humberto Soto in a crossroads encounter at 140 pounds. Mercito Gests and Martin Honorio face each other at lightweight while prospects D’Mitrius Ballard, Kevin Rivers and Julian Ramirez look to continue their progression.

RingTV.com – What are your thoughts on facing Postol?

Lucas Matthysse – I’m happy because I’m fighting for a world title. I’ve been sparring very well. I feel very comfortable and happy to be facing him on October 3rd.

Lucas Matthysse (L) whacks John Molina's face during their fight in April 2014, later voted THE RING's Fight of the Year. Photo by Naoki Fukdua.

Lucas Matthysse (L) whacks John Molina’s face during their fight in April 2014, later voted THE RING’s Fight of the Year. Photo by Naoki Fukdua.


RTV – What does Postol bring to the ring in terms of strengths and areas you can exploit?

LM – I know that Viktor has an advantage over me in height and I understand that and have been preparing for that. I know I need to keep my distance to make sure I’m not reached. I feel my training has been accommodating all of those challenges for this fight and I am ready.

I do see some weaknesses but I’m not going to disclose that. I have been training to make sure I expose those weaknesses.

RTV – This fight takes place at the StubHub Center. The last time you fought there you were involved in the 2014 Fight of the Year against John Molina.

LM – I’m very happy to return to the StubHub Center and return to the U.S because it’s the Mecca of boxing in the world. The fight I had against Molina was a big fight for me and I know I need to come back to the StubHub stronger and ready to please all my U.S fans.

RTV – You were previously aligned with Al Haymon but you decided to part ways and stay with Golden Boy Promotions earlier this year. Why was that?

LM – Golden Boy has always treated me well, given me good fights and that’s something that I believe in – fighting the best. I consider Golden Boy, alongside Mario Arano and Arano boxing, as my family.

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

RTV – Your last fight was one of the leading candidates for this year’s Fight of the Year. Tell us about the Provodnikov fight.

LM – It was a great fight. Ruslan is a great warrior, he is a great fighter, I feel a lot of respect for him. Both of us went into the ring and left it all in the ring and gave it our all. I’m happy I came out victorious in that fight and also happy I had the opportunity to face Ruslan because I have a lot of respect for him. If you notice, we ended up hugging at the end of the fight like true, good sportsmen. We both like each other. I feel proud to have fought someone like him.

RTV – Postol is a teammate and countryman of Provodnikov – naturally, he’ll be looking to gain revenge for his friend.

LM – I am aware they have the same manager and are from the same country but I feel happy that I am facing Viktor Postol, because I know Ruslan was really prepared for the fight and I know Viktor will be too.

RTV – What are your thoughts on the junior welterweight division?

LM – It’s a really good division, it has a lot of great fighters. A lot of the fights in this division are usually very exciting.

How do you evaluate THE RING’s Top 10:

1. Lucas Matthysse – I’m the type of fighter that likes to give it my all in the ring. I will go forward and if I need to brawl I will do that.
2. Lamont Peterson – Lamont is a great fighter. I was at my best when I fought him and I have respect for him.
3. Ruslan Provodnikov – He’s a great warrior and I have a lot of respect for him as a fighter.
4. Terence Crawford – Terence is a great fighter – he’s new and his fights are very exciting. I’d like to fight him one day when the time is right because I consider him to be one of the best in the division.
5. Adrien Broner – I think nothing of him, he’s a loudmouth.
6. Jessie Vargas – He has a good Mexican style. I like that style.
7. Viktor Postol – He is a good fighter, I am happy to be facing him.
8. Mauricio Herrera – He’s a very experienced fighter that has had great fights.
9. Amir Imam – I’m not familiar with him.
10. Jose Benavidez – I don’t know him.

RTV – Tell us about your life away from boxing?

LM – I live a very calm life. I’m always spending time with my family. If I’m not training we like to travel. I like tattoos, it’s my style. I can actually do tattoos, it’s something I love to do. I really enjoy fishing.

 

 

Video by Dominic Verdin and Daniel Morales

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/AnsonWainwright

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