Feared puncher Matthysse ready to steal Mayweather’s thunder
Published:On Saturday evening the crowds will be coming to the MGM Grand to see if Floyd Mayweather can take his record to 45-0, but they’ll be wise to take their seats early.
The bout between ‘Money’ and Saul Alvarez has understandably taken the headlines, but the undercard contest between Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse and the American Danny Garcia has the potential to be just as, if not more explosive.
Considered to be the two top dogs in the junior welterweight division, Matthysse and Garcia come together for what should be a hugely entertaining matchup.
It is the Argentinean who holds 2/5 favouritism, and a look at the feared puncher’s record makes that obvious to see why.
‘The Machine’ is 34-2, but many within boxing feel that should read 36-0 following controversial points reverses against Jab Zudah and Devon Alexander in 2010 and then 2011.
A much more telling tale of the 30-year-old’s prowess came in the brutal third round knockout of Lamont Peterson in Atlantic City in May this year, a performance which led Richard Schaefer – the CEO of Golden Boy – to draw comparisons between Matthysse and a certain Manny Pacquiao.
Like Peterson, Garcia has a victory over Amir Khan on his CV, but this will represent a significant step up in class for the fighter of Puerto Rican descent.
He’s never fought anyone of Matthysse’s power before, and that could well be the defining trait of a fight which may well keep fans waiting a long time for Mayweather and Alvarez.
A Matthysse win by knockout or disqualification is the favourite outcome at 4/6, but if one of those does occur it is likely to come late on against the so far unbeaten Garcia, with the 7/1 on offer for a victory between rounds 10-12 looking the way to go.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publication
