Devon Alexander Vs Lucas Matthysse – Two overtyped fighters or great matchmaking?

By Boxing News - 02/17/2011 - Comments

Image: Devon Alexander Vs Lucas Matthysse – Two overtyped fighters or great matchmaking?By Mark Hepplestall: The boxing world was promised a match up by HBO which would be Marcos Maidana Vs Devon Alexander; however reality has brought us in my opinion two very overhyped boxers at a crossroads fight. These guys are actually very similar yet totally different, Alexander is a good boxer who showcases good boxing skills through speed and great technical ability and he can be described as being more science then sensation in the ring. Whereas his opponent Lucas Matthysse is known for his great power shots and the quantity of punches he throws per round.

So how are these boxers similar? Well firstly they are both very carefully matched, Lucas Matthysse has an impressive 86% KO ratio but the level of opposition is less than spectacular. The majority of Lucas’s fights have only lasted four rounds, which leave a lot questions about his stamina and even more about the level of opposition he has been facing. Also worth a point is that Lucas Matthysse has only had four fights outside of Argentina, which include one victory in the USA, one victory in Mexico, a no contest in the USA and lastly a loss against Jab Judah in the USA.

While Alexander is also very carefully matched, he was so carefully matched that he was propelled to the top of the WBC rankings to gain a shot at the title against Junior Witter. Alexander has only fought outside the USA once in China and has maybe faced a slightly better quality of opposition then Lucas Matthysse when looking at fights with Witter, Urango, Kotelnik and Bradley. Alexander boasts an ordinary 59% KO ratio but doesn’t really look for one big shot to end a fight like Lucas Matthysse.

Unfortunately I think the reason that Lucas Matthysse has been picked to fight against Devon Alexander is because unlike fellow countryman Maidana, it is possible to outbox Matthysse. Khan who is most likely the best boxer in the division found it hard to outbox Maidana and maybe HBO and Don King thought Alexander will have a better chance beating Matthysse then Maidana. Also there is the fact that Maidana had other offers and has now chosen the easy option to a world title by fighting Erik Morales. Looking at the facts that we know for sure which include an overhyped American boxer who needs to find a quick way back to title contention, the fight occurring in the USA were the opposition has a 50/50 record, and the fact that Matthysse found it hard winning rounds against Jab Judah in the USA all point to the conclusion that Matthysse is walking straight into a trap and may need his 86% KO ratio to have any chance of winning.

Lastly a thought of the day regarding Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley, do these boxers believe that all the money and hype is in the rematch?



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