In a fight-of-the-year contender, power punchers Lucas Matthysse (36-3, 34 KOs) and Ruslan Provodnikov (24-3, 17 KOs) will go to war on Saturday evening in a matchup that should leave fights fans breathless by its conclusion.
The bout, which takes place at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in New York, showcases two of the most eye-catching fighters from the Light Welterweight division, both of whom are notorious for their ferocious styles.
With all eyes on Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s May 2 showdown, which is already being pitted as fight of the century, this fight has crept up under the radar for many. But hardcore fight fans will know this fight could eclipse that and the Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo bout of 2005, considered by many to be the greatest fight of all time.
In their previous bouts the two have shown such tremendous heart, courage and resolute with the consensus being that the fight will descend into a gruelling contest, with the dimensions of the bout constantly evolving. It’s special in a way that any prediction is futile, with it simply being a find out on the night type of fight.
The fact that both fighters have already engaged in scintillating battles that have been dubbed as fight-of-the years by Ring Magazine, highlights why it was almost an inevitability that these two fighters would share the ring. Matthysse’s came against John Molina last year, while Provodnikov was awarded it when he fought Timothy Bradley in 2013.
Matthysse came into his fight with Molina as an overwhelming favorite, but It seemed as if the 32 year old had had a fall from grace, especially on the back of a loss to Danny Garcia, when he was sent tumbling to the canvas in the second and fifth round.
But somehow he managed to muster up an incredible spirit, sending his foe down in the eighth and 10th before the referee waived it off in the 11th, serving as an example of Matthysse’s unwavering characteristic.
In his 36 professional wins, 34 of them have been delivered by knockout, and even in his split-decision losses to Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, he still managed to send each opponent to the canvas one time.
Apart from the likes of Middleweight sensation Gennady Golovkin, or current WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, it’s hard to find anyone in their respective weight division who possess the punching power that Matthysse does in the current era of boxing.
But Provodnikov is no stranger to fighting in the trenches himself. He was edged out in a fascinating 12 rounder with then WBO belt holder Bradley in 2013, and had to dig deep to earn a 10th round retirement over Mike Alvarado in the same year.
There is a wealth of enigmas to this fight which contributes to its fascinating intrigue. Matthysse has the ability to box, create angles and fight Provodnikov on the outside, but he isn’t the most adept operator.
Whereas Provodnikov–it’s simply in his blood to fight. His come-forward style and incessant pressure means he will hunt down his foe. He hasn’t got great footwork, and if Matthysse uses his three inch reach advantage over the Russian, expect him to try and control the fight early on and use his jab to launch some powerful combinations.
Targeting the body of Matthysse has to be the tactic for Provodnikov if he wants to slow down the Argentine.
But the facts point towards a brutal engagement. Provodnikov has a chin of granite, and has never been sent to the canvas once in his career. And although Matthysse has hit the floor, his phenomenal recovery ability means the two should trade bombs midway through and towards the later rounds with a knockout victory for either fighter a possibility.
Whatever happens on Saturday evening, you can expect an unhealthy amount of blood and hellacious exchanges, as two of the most tenacious fighters in boxing look to put themselves back in the contention for a world title shot.
