While Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse features the IBF titleholder at 140 pounds, and the WBC interim titleholder, this fight is actually a catchweight fight with no title at stake. While that’s disappointing, there’s a lot more is at stake than just the IBF’s red belt, however.
The winner of this fight will ostensibly meet the winner of the prospective Danny Garcia vs. Amir Khan II bout, and the victor of that clash will be indisputably the top dog of the red-hot junior welterweight division.
Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KOs)
5’6 1/2″ tall, 69″ reach, 30 years old
Argentine
One thing that makes this an especially noteworthy bout is that it continues Matthysse’s record of having no world title fights to his name. It sounds strange, as Matthysse is such a well-established contender in the junior welterweights, but all his past title fights were either for regional belts or for the interim (fake) WBC belt.
In each of his losses, both highly disputed contests against Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, no titles were at stake. He is a tough, powerful fighter with polished punching skills.
Lamont Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KOs)
5’9″ tall, 72″ reach, 29 years old
American
IBF Junior Welterweight Champion
Washington, DC’s top boxer has bounced back from the PED scandal that tainted his squeaker win over Amir Khan in December 2012 by stopping Kendall Holt this past February. Against Matthysse, we can expect Peterson to bring his world class boxing skills, poise, ring smarts, and speed.
On the other hand, it has to be said that Peterson lacks a cast iron chin. Timothy Bradley, Khan, and Victor Ortiz have all put him down.
Peterson vs. Matthysse Analysis
Ostensibly, this ought to be a matador vs. bull classic, with the taller, quicker, and more skilled Peterson spearing Matthysse all night. Throw that analogy out the window, though, as Matthysse has proven himself more than capable of punching with the boxers in battles against Devon Alexander and Zab Judah. Both those fights were close losses for Matthysse, so close that they cemented his reputation as a hard luck contender, always getting the short end of the stick.
On the one hand, Peterson has faster hands than either Alexander or Judah. On the other, Matthysse was able to get to both Judah and Alexander and put them down, and I think Peterson’s chin is probably just about as durable, and the Argentine punches as hard or harder than Khan and Ortiz. If Matthysse connects, he can hurt Peterson.
Peterson vs. Matthysse Preview
Matthysse will not have fought a big match in two years by the time he gets to Peterson, and he tends to come in having rehydrated to the tune of 10 lbs. While he hasn’t been a slow starter lately, I think he might be a little more tentative against Peterson. For his part, Peterson has a knack for sluggish openings. The first round or two of this fight could see these two guys just paw at each other.
I think Peterson will be the first one to try to assert himself, and that might make the difference between winning and losing. When Matthysse starts getting aggressive and nasty, the fight will become a real see-saw, as Peterson scores and then has to fend off the Argentine’s fierce assault. I would not be surprised at all to see “Havoc” get his bell rung and hit the canvas at least once during the fight.
It should be a close one, with Peterson winning more rounds, but with Matthysse earning a 10-8 or two. However, we know Lucas Matthysse doesn’t win close fights, so in the event of a squeaker, the nod will go to Peterson.
Prediction: Lamont Peterson SD12 Lucas Matthysse
