By Franco Ranzoni: WBC interim light welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse has 32 KO wins out of 34 victories. The highest KO percentage in boxing today among active fighters. His power has been described as monstrous and scary. “It’s literally like a bomb explodes every time he lands a punch,” said Paulie Malignaggi of Matthysse after the Lamont Peterson fight last May.
Matthysse has never been knocked down in a professional fight. This is what we all know about Lucas Matthysse. But what about what we don’t know about the man who is on the cusp of boxing history?
Having befriended both Lucas and his brother Walter some years ago on Facebook, I am often surprised to find that hardly anybody pays any attention to the part of his life that truly makes him the modest boxing star that he is today. We spend so much time listening, reading and watching Floyd Mayweather play around with all his possessions that we lose track of a much more inspirational story; a story that is more understandable to most of us than that of “Money May’ and his dozens of luxurious cars.
So let’s talk about that aspect of Matthysse which is as unknown to us as the dark side of the moon. If we ever had a real life Rocky Balboa, Matthysse would be it. Throughout this past year I have been witness to hundreds of posts by Lucas that range anywhere from his adoration of his daughter to a humble lifestyle that would make most middle class Americans cringe. How could this man that is supposed to be one of Boxing’s biggest stars train and live in such conditions? Well, the answer does not lie in how much money Matthysse makes, but instead, in the type of human being he is. In fact, his lifestyle is not a matter of money but one of humility, modesty and most importantly, respect for himself and the sport that he commands. Boxing should glorify Matthysse and everything he represents. Instead, we find ourselves idolizing heroes that do more damage to the sport of boxing than good.
Lucas Matthysse has now arguably been robbed twice of boxing super stardom. The man has had to endure countless setbacks in a career that would have probably been as revered as the most popular boxers in the sport had he been born in the United States. Instead, he–like many others that have not been built up by greedy promoters and shady decisions– has had to jump through hoops of fire to finally get to where he is today. His response to the evident corruption has been clear to say the least. He leaves nothing to chance. He takes the judges out of the equation and knocks out everyone that stands in front of his dream to become the world champion. In a matter of days, he will apply the same winning formula to his bout with Danny Garcia. Needless to say, the fight will probably not go the distance.
I am for this Rocky story that is Lucas Matthysse. I am for it because if it comes to fruition, boxing will finally earn some of the fibre and respect that it so desperately needs. Most importantly, I am for this story because if Lucas Matthysse does win this upcoming fight, his persona will not change. Whilst other boxers become bufoons after reaching the pinnacle of the sport, he will remain as humble and modest as he has been his entire career. He will be an example to young aspiring boxing stars, as well as those who no longer believe in the sweet science. Lucas Matthysse is, without a doubt, boxing’s diamond in the rough. Will we finally realize his real value?
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