By Sean McDaniel: Light welterweight contender Lucas Matthysse (27-1, 25 KO’s) faces journeyman DeMarcus Corley (37-15-1, 22 KO’s) on Friday night in a scheduled 10 round stay busy fight at the Polideportivo Vincente Polimeni, Las Heras, Mendoza, Argentina. This is an important fight for the 28-year-old Matthysse for a couple of reasons. First of all, it will provide Matthysse a good measuring stick to compare where he’s at in relations to fellow countryman Marcos Maidana, who struggled badly to defeat by a 12 round decision in August last year.

It also is an important fight for Matthysse because he’s coming off of a controversial 12 round decision loss to Zab Judah in November last year. Matthysse has to get back on the winning trail so that he can be in line for a title shot in the future against one of the champions. Matthysse isn’t mentioned in the same breath as the top fighters in the light welterweight division like Maidana, Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander, Amir Khan, Judah and Victor Ortiz as of yet.

However, if Matthysse can keep winning and looking good like he did in the loss to Judah, Matthysse will find himself getting a title shot soon and in the position to get big money fights. Corley, who has lost four out of his last fights, will provide a great test for Matthysse because of his big power and southpaw stance.

Corley isn’t the same fighter he once was, but he can still punch with the best of the light welterweights. Matthysse would do best to try and put a lot of pressure on Corley and get him out of there as quick as possible. Corley has a way of making some fighters look bad because of his power and the way he dives in to clinch. Matthysse needs to try and halt Corley fast before he starts to pick up momentum.