By Michael Lieberman: Previously unbeaten light welterweight knockout artist Lucas Matthysse (27-1, 25 KO’s) was really jobbed in his last fight against Zab Judah in November, losing by a controversial 12 round split decision in Judah’s neck of the woods in Newark, New Jersey. Matthysse knocked Judah down in the 10th, and badly punished him from the 5th round on, yet was given the bad end of the stick in the defeat. On January 21st, Matthysse will face former World Boxing Organization (WBO) light welteweight champion DeMarcus Corley (37-15-1, 22 KO’s) in a 10 round bout at the Polideportivo Cincente Polimeni, Las Heras, Mendoza, Argentina.

Matthysse is still ranked high at #4 WBO and #8 IBF, but he really needs this win if he’s to continue his upward progression and get a fight against one of the champions in the future. Matthysse has the power to give any of the champions problems. However, he’s got to learn to star earlier with his offense, because he was started late against Judah and spent too much time throwing shots to the body and not focusing punches to the weak chin of Judah.

Matthysse was obviously counting on weakening Judah in the later rounds with early body work. However, by ignoring Judah’s weak chin and all the scar tissue around his eyes, Matthysse, allowed Judah to survive to the point where he was able to win a hometown decision against hm. Matthysse won’t have to worry about losing a home town decision against Corley, as the fight will be taking place in Matthysse’s home country of Argentina, but he needs to work on starting earlier with his attacks non the less. He can’t just give up large stretches of his fights and hope to rally later in the fight to score a knockout.