It’s become the trendy pick among boxing scribes and fans alike, Lucas Matthysse over Danny Garcia by devastating knockout.
Perhaps it’s a case of “what have you done for me lately” as is usually the case in boxing.
As a quick reminder, Garcia fought and won a tough 12 Round battle in his last bout against Zab Judah in April of this year, while Matthysse blew Lamont Peterson away in three rounds in May.
But isn’t Garcia The Ring, WBC Light Welterweight and WBA Super World Lightweight champion?
Yes, he is in fact all of the above.
But it is Matthysse, not Garcia, who has been paraded around like a champion with meet-and-greets as well as gracing the cover of Ring Magazine.
All of this has helped reinforce the now popular notion that Matthysse is too strong and too talented for Garcia.
In a poll conducted by Round By Round Boxing, fans overwhelmingly expressed their opinion that Matthysse will knock Garcia out as well.
So does Garcia stand a chance?
Of course he does, and here is why.
Garcia—for all of his boxing deficiencies—can flat out punch, so he always has a punchers chance. It can be said confidently that Matthysse has never faced a power puncher like Garcia, so if the kid from Philly can land something significant, we have to see how Matthysse takes it.
Although many people point to the “blueprint” that Judah and Devon Alexander laid out to defeat Matthysse, Garcia’s plan must be different.
Garcia lacks the lateral movement and effective jab to keep the plodding Matthysse off of him for 12 rounds, so pure boxing is likely not in the cards.
What Garcia does do masterfully is counter punch. Coupled with Matthysse’s less than stellar hand speed and his appetite for eating punches as a form of defense—see Humberto Soto fight—counter punches will be Garcia’s golden ticket.
Matthysse is a bull and he will try to come forward as long as the fight lasts in hopes of landing any combination of big punches.
If Matthysse gets lazy with his jabs to the head or body, expect Garcia to be ready to counter with something significant.
Lastly, we have to ask ourselves, what if Garcia is able to weather the storm and fire back against Matthysse? Will “The Machine” wither under the pressure that his power isn’t making Garcia crumble?
One thing is for certain; both men are confident and will be ready to work their plan come Saturday night. May the best man win.
Who do you think will win between Danny Garcia and Lucas Matthysse?
