Lamont Peterson vs Lucas Matthysse Preview

By Boxing News - 05/17/2013 - Comments

005APetersonandLPetersonIMG_3414(Photo credit: Casino/Showtime) By Peter Wells (twitter – @boxingpeter): Is this the start of a new era? Are we now staring at potential super fights, that will be talked about in years to come in the same breath as the Four Kings. Maybe not. But what some boxing enthusiasts and those who claim boxing is dead more times than Archie Moore had fights, are ignoring is that between the Light Welterweight division and the Light Middleweight division, there is a heap of potential fights that will only do boxing’s image good.

And to figure this out you’ll need a broad mind, so try looking outside of the Canelo-Mayweather box. Just try to imagine the potential fights between the likes of, Peterson, Berto, Ortiz, Khan, Canelo, Garcia, Trout and many more. These will make for thrilling fights and thrilling rivalries. But let me warn you. Don’t get your hopes up just yet.

But if you are a hopeful person, then there is no reason to fear that you are raising your hopes up for nothing. Tomorrow nights match-up between Lamont Peterson(31-1-1 16KOs) and Lucas Matthysse(33-2 31KOs) gives fight fans more than enough reason to be optimistic. This is a fight between two of the premier 140lbs fighters (although it is being fought at 141lbs. And yep, your probably as dumb-founded as me with this catchweight) and also a fight between two fighters who love to force their opponents into the trenches.

Lamont Peterson took Amir Khan into the trenches in their December fight last year, and this is the first and only time I’ll mention Peterson’s failed drug test. My reasoning is that it has no relevance whatsoever to Saturday night’s match-up. But I’m still fully expecting a good deal of comments relating to Peterson taking PED’s, which is fine, but I would much rather focus on the fight itself which really is a pick em’ fight.

The question that can only be answered on fight night, is whether or not Peterson can hurt Matthysse enough to keep the Argentinian off of him. Matthysse will be on the front foot throughout so it will be up to Peterson to limit how much Matthysse wishes to force the action. Matthysse is so used to beating opponents into submission, although two close and controversial defeats to slick fighters, Zab Judah and Devon Alexander may have underlined that he cant find the stoppages at the highest level. Recent stoppage victims, Humberto Soto, Ajose Olusegun and Mike Dallas Jr, are not in the same league as Peterson.

Since Peterson’s only career defeat to Timothy Bradley, the Washington fighter has certainly improved but he has also suffered 3 knockdowns in his last 6 fights, and against a puncher like Matthysse Peterson may well hit the canvas once again. Although not a puncher himself, Peterson has always seemed quite large at the weight, which makes one wonder whether he can neutralise Matthysse’s power with his own strength.

In a very hard fight to judge, Matthysse will find it easier to land on Peterson than the earlier mentioned Alexander and Judah, but Peterson will also be more willing to throw back than Matthysse’s three latest victims. My verdict on who wins all comes down to the question that can’t be answered until the fight begins. If Peterson can stun or even hurt Matthysse then the pick will be for Peterson to do enough work to win a unanimous decision, but if Peterson’s punches have little or no effect on the Argentinian then Matthysse is the pick to win a close decision.

In the chief support Devon Alexander(24-1 13KOs) defends his IBF Welterweight title against Lee Purdy(20-3-1 13KOs) who came in to replace the injured Kell Brook. Alexander a very slick and fast fighter can outbox the slower but more powerful Englishman. Purdy will need to be quick on his toes to pressure Alexander and not get caught off balance. The pick is for Alexander to come out victorious in a relatively one sided fight.



Comments are closed.