By Jim Dower: Top light welterweight contender Lucas Martin Matthysse (27-1, 25 KO’s) faces former World Boxing Organization (WBO) light welterweight champion DeMarcus Corley (37-15-1, 22 KO’s) in a scheduled 10 round bout on January 21st at the Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina.

Matthysse, 28, is coming off a controversial 12 round split decision loss to Zab Judah in September in a fight in which Matthysse knocked Judah down in the 10th round and battered him in the 11th and 12th rounds. It appeared that Matthysse had done more than enough to get the decision, as he had dominated the 2nd half of the fight and appeared to have won two of the first six rounds against the aging Judah.

However, the fight took place in New Jersey, which is not far from where Judah comes from. Matthysse, being the visiting fighter, ended up coming up on the short end of the stick. Never the less, Matthysse is still ranked high in the light welterweight division at #4 WBO and #8 IBF.

The fight against Corley should give Matthysse a good measuring stick for him to compare himself to fellow countryman Marcos Maidana, who struggled to defeat Corley by a 12 round decision in August. Corley was knocked down by a right hand from Maidana in the 7th, but Corley was able to survive the round and give Maidana problems as the fight progressed.

Corley lost his next bout by a lopsided 12 round decision to Serhiy Fedchenko. Counting that loss, Corley has now lost four out of his last five fights. He still has good power in his left hand, but his chin is suspect and his work rate is low much of the time.