On October 3rd at boxing’s best outdoor venue of this decade, Stub Hub Center, Carson, CA., a sure Fight of the Year candidate takes place when Lucas Matthysse of Argentina battles Ukrainian Viktor Postol in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds. The fight will be televised by HBO with the WBC super-lightweight title on the line.
Matthysse 37-3-0 (34 KO’s) enters the contest riding a three-fight win streak and has been victorious in nine of his last 10, including 2014 fight of the year vs. John Molina, which took place in the same ring where he will battle Postol. The lone loss during this run was to Danny Garcia in a battle for the very belt he will try to claim on October 3rd. Matthysse will be the “bull” in this Bull vs. Matador match up. “The Machine” as the Argentine is referred as, won a 12-round majority decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in April and displayed some crafty boxing skills which many experts didn’t know he possessed.
Contrary to the Provodnikov fight, the slick boxing style of Postol will create a much more elusive target than Provodnikov posed. Matthysse sounded very confident at the pre-fight press conference.
“Postol isn’t anything big. He boxes well, but that’s it. I’m not taking him lightly though, because, he’s at he top of the rankings for a reason.”
Viktor “The Iceman” Postol arrives for THE biggest fight of his career with a record of 27-0 with 11 knockouts. To date, Postol’s biggest victory was over Selcuk Aydin in May of 2014.
The 11th round knockout was his introduction to the American public and any, myself included, stood up and took notice.This will undoubtedly be the toughest test in the career of the 31-year-old and Postol knows that all too well.
“To get this fight, I had to go through six years of hard work and dedication in the gym and ring. I am ready mentally and physically win this fight and bring the title to the Ukraine.”
In order for “The Iceman” to do that, he will have to keep Matthysse at bay. The jab of Postol will be his key weapon in accomplishing that goal.
After a lackluster 2014, the world of professional prizefighting has seen a resurgence in 2015. Marquee matchups like Mayweather vs. Pacquiao in May, and Cotto vs. Alvarez still to come in November. On this night with electricity running through the arena, another great matchup takes place. If Matthysse can walk through Postol’s jab, it could be a short night for the Ukranian, but if the smooth rangy style of “The Iceman” can befuddle “The Machine,” we could be in for one long, entertaining battle.
The Stub Hub Center has a way of bringing out the best in all boxers and turns them into fighters. On October 3rd, I wouldn’t expect anything less.
