In a recent interview Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, promised fans that the much anticipated bout between former world title challenger Lucas Matthysse and former WBC light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov would be taking place for March 28th at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. In the sport where a lot of fights get missed it is good to hear a guarantee of the fight taking place from the promoter.
This is a fight many in boxing are looking forward to due to the fact that each of the combatants mentioned are amongst the best in the business at what they do. Each man has the skill set to cut off the ring and land on their opponents, although this is the type of fight where neither man will have to look far to find each other.
These are the type of fighters who never take a step backward and that the type of fight every fan loves.
I will be making sure even my friends who are not particularly interested in the sport are about to see this one as I know it is a spectacle that anyone can appreciate.
As far as predictions go I would have to put an edge on Matthysse to bag this one. Both men can apply pressure, both men have the ability to end the fight through their ridiculous power but the only difference I can see is in the technique Matthysse possesses. He is slightly the more clinical of the two in his punching. Whilst I would wager their punches carry the same amount of force, I can see Matthysse being able to land easier, and therefore more frequently on Provodnikov, which could lead to a quicker accumulation of damage which may force a stoppage.
As far as stoppages go it may be a first for either man. Both have three losses on their record but neither have ever been stopped in their careers. This makes a fight between sluggers particularly interesting and it is not out of the question that a close decision could spawn a rematch. This is the type of fight people would pay to watch again even if the result wasn’t particularly close. Anyway everyone mark their calendars for the 28th March, this is one nobody should miss.
