To the Viktor belong the spoils. The boxing world went Postol on Saturday night as “The Iceman” (28-0, 12 KOs) from Kiev, Ukraine put his stamp on the boxing landscape scoring a 10th-round knockout victory over Lucas “La Máquina” Matthysse (37-4, 34 KOs) to capture the vacant WBC 140 lbs. title. Postol and Matthysse fought in front of a standing room only crowd of 7,025 fight fans at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The fight was televised live as the main event of HBO Boxing After Dark.
Trained by Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and promoted by Top Rank, Postol, who has spent extensive time training with Manny Pacquiao, took charge of the fight at the outset and dominated Matthysse. The fight will be replayed tonight at midnight on HBO2 and tomorrow at 11:15 p.m. on HBO.
VIKTOR POSTOL
“I was a small boy, 12 years old, when I first went into a boxing gym. Even then my ultimate goal was to win a world championship. I later made a decision to leave the Ukraine and go to America which is the Mecca of Boxing.
“I went right to the Wild Card Gym. Freddie Roach became my trainer. This was our third fight. It was Freddie and his trainers who taught me the small things to work on and become stronger as a professional boxer. I am a world champion because of Freddie, the world’s best trainer. I mean that.
“At the Wild Card I did everything he told me to do each and every day. Now I am bringing home a WBC green world championship belt. The people of Ukraine will be so proud. I beat a very strong, powerful champion to win the title.”
FREDDIE ROACH, Hall of Fame Trainer
“Before the last round I told our corner that our opponent was very tired and ready to go out. He was coming in with his head leaning down. We told Viktor, ‘Now is the time for a right uppercut and a left hook.’
“Viktor is a good student of the game. He followed the game plan perfectly. This was, really, one of the greatest wins of my career.”
BOB ARUM, Hall of Fame Promoter
“Viktor Postol will be a real force in the 140 and 147 pound divisions. He had a terrific fight tonight. He will be hard to beat. Top Rank will have some big very fights for him.”
