Matthysse v Dallas Junior
Argentine light-welter Lucas Matthysse can make a strong claim
to be considered the most devastating puncher operating in boxing
today.
Born in Trelew, approximately 800 miles south of Buenos Aires, the
30 year old WBC interim champion has wasted 30 of his 32 victims
ahead of schedule. BoxNation subscribers will get a chance to catch
a glimpse of the beast - it might be brief - when he makes a maiden
defence of his title against Bakersfield, California's Mike Dallas
Junior at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas this
Saturday.
(The Channel of Champions broadcast live and exclusive in the
UK from 2am Sunday morning on Sky Ch.437/Virgin Ch. 546).
The bull strong 5ft 61/2 in Argentine was born into a fighting
family. Dad Mario was a useful light-middleweight contender in the
1980s while elder brother Walter once went 25-0 (24 stoppages!)
before having his bubble popped by Paul 'The Punisher' Williams
(lko10), the Kermit Cintron who iced him in two in a July 2007 IBF
welterweight title challenge. Lucas's mother Doris and sister Edith
have also laced the gloves competitively.
Indeed, it was mum not dad who inducted the former gang fighter
into the Noble Art when Lucas was just 11. His amateur career
extended close to 100 contests, included national titles and
international singlets, and peaked at the 2003 Pan American Games
when he blitzed Amir Khan conqueror Breidis Prescott inside a
round.
He might have achieved even more had his unpaid tenure not
coincided with Santa Fe's equally savage Marcos Maidana, the one
time WBA light-welter boss, who mastered him in three of their four
collisions (the fourth bout was a draw).
Since debuting as a pro in June 2004, Matthysse has wiped out 27
of his 34 opponents inside the opening four rounds. His scalp list
includes ex world champions 'Vicious' Vivian Harris (rsc4),
DeMarcus Corley (rsc8) and Humberto Soto (rtd5). In his most recent
gig, he hunted down, then ravaged London based Nigerian Ajose
Olusegun (30-0 going in) in round ten to collect his interim belt
in a fantastic fight.
Even the two smudges on his card are contestable. Slick southpaw
world champions Zab Judah and Devon Alexander were both put on
their backs before eloping with split and highly debatable
decisions over 12 and 10 rounds respectively in the 2010-11
season.
Aggressive and relentless, with a vicious body attack, the
Golden Boy promoted star has lately been looking to add some smarts
to his game, training alongside Sergio Martinez, the world's
leading middleweight at Pablo Sarmiento's World Crown Sports Gym in
Oxnard, California.
Opponent Dallas Junior has compiled a 19-2-1 slate at a level a
few rungs beneath and a knockout loss to Josesito Lopez two years
back does not bode well for his prospects of staving off
Matthysse.
On the bright side, 'The Silent Assassin' shall enter with
significant edges in height and reach and, at just 26, will not be
without ambition.
He, too, is the son of a former pro. Mike Senior boxed as a
southpaw lightweight with moderate success throughout the 90s and
his passing in late November is sure to galvanise Junior's effort
this weekend.
The challenger certainly brings a strong amateur pedigree.
Victorious in 115 of 127 unpaid spats, he bagged the 2006 National
PAL championship and twice competed at the US Olympic Trials. In
2008, he was thwarted by current WBA king Danny Garcia.
Highly skilled, he shall bring the type of flighty, evasive ring
style that has given Matthysse fits previously and the recent
addition of master strategist Virgil Hunter (whose client list
contains Andre Ward and Amir Khan) to his back-up team shan't
harm.
It's certainly conceivable that the Californian stylist could
assume an early command but he simply appears to lack the brawn
required to repel the Argentine bull for the 36 minute duration of
a championship battle.
Expect Matthysse to close the gap as each round passes and
eventually execute the cull, sometime after half way, and
strengthen his claim for a showdown with WBA boss Danny Garcia,
later this year.
Aydin v Soto Karass
There could be more fireworks in the chief support when Turkey's
world rated welter Selcuk Aydin squares off with LA based Mexican
Jesus Soto Karass over ten rounds.
Last time out the tank-like Turk conceded his unbeaten tag when
another California based Latino Robert Guerrero took him to school
over 12 in a lively clash for the vacant WBC interim title in San
Jose.
Latterly, the 29 year old has hooked up with Londoner Adam Booth
(mentor to David Haye and George Groves) at his Vauxhall gym, no
doubt seeking to add the finesse needed to supplement his
unquestionable muscle and explosive punching.
Aydin has been training
with Adam Booth (above)
'The Thunderstorm From The Black Sea' is a colourful character;
a physical monster with a mustard temper. Diehard fans might recall
him as the hothead who was slung out of the amateur code following
a 2006 contest with Frankie Gavin at the European Championships,
after 'Mini Tyson' was red carded for punching the referee!
It was an ignoble end to an otherwise illustrious time with the
'simon pures', in which he'd previously struck gold at both the
European Cadets (1999) and European Juniors (2001) plus medalled at
the World Juniors and European Seniors (twice).
Aydin (R) in 2004, during his amateur days
A native of Trabzon, he relocated to Hamburg, Germany to kick
start his professional innings, promoted by Ahmet Oner and coached
by Conny Mittermeier, in November 2006. Alternating between Germany
and his homeland, (he has also aired in Spain and the US), he raced
to 23 successive wins with an ominous 17 before the final bell.
En route he collected the WBC International, European and WBC
Silver belts and his cosmopolitan scalp list includes South
Africa's 25-4 Lucky Lewele (pts12), Ecuador's 22-3 Luis Hernandez
(rsc1), Morocco's 25-2 Said Ouali (pts12), Belgium's 30-2 Jackson
Osei Bonsu (ko9) and 26-0 Canadian southpaw Jo Jo Dan whom he twice
outpointed, snapping the Canuck's jaw in their latter spat. Clearly
he has heavy hands.
His 30 year old opponent, a native of Los Mochis, brings
reasonable 26-8-3-1NC stats but has won just two of his last eight
- albeit in good company - and Gabriel Rosado and Marcos Maidana
have both beaten him inside the distance during the last 12
months.
Nevertheless, Karass will enjoy significant physical advantages
- nothing Aydin hasn't encountered before - and in his prime he was
good enough to beat the likes of Saul Roman, Vince Phillips,
Michael Rosales David Estrada and Carson Jones.
Soto
Karass (R) before his WBA International challenge against Marcos
Maidana
He should prove competitive without threatening victory. The key
intrigue will revolve around whether coach Booth has been able to
plane over some of the Turk's cruder excesses. If he has, Aydin,
already rated third with the WBC, could register a highly credible
stoppage win, that will accelerate his return to world championship
competition.
