“Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
Lucas Matthysee has knocked out 34 of 36 opponents.
Ruslan Provodnikov has scored 17 knockouts in his 24 wins.
Former champions Matthysee and Provodnikov will meet this Saturday night at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York, in one of the most eagerly anticipated matches this year.
Both men are looking forward to testing themselves against each other.
“I’m excited to be fighting a caliber of fighter like Ruslan,” said Matthysee during a media conference call a few weeks ago. “It’s two, you know, fighters at the top of their game fighting each other. A lot of people are looking forward to the fight and I’m just excited to be fighting again at this level and fighting a guy like Ruslan.”
“This is going to be a great fight and I think that for me it’s no less than to all the people watching,” said the 31-year-old Provodnikov. “You know, for me it’s exciting as well and these types of fights are what’s important because for me the fight and the money as I’ve said many times, they’re not number one."
“Number one is I want my fights to be part of history, and I think this is one of those fights that is destined to be part of history.”
Matthysee, 32, has power in both hands. He likes to take his time and set traps. The biggest win of his career was a third round stoppage of former IBF junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson.
Last year Matthysee engaged in what this writer picked as "The Fight of the Year"—an 11 round brawl with John Molina. Close decision losses to Zab Judah and Devon Alexander proved that slick boxers give Matthysee fits. Provodnikov is hardly slick. If anything he’s crude, but his strength and will are probably something Matthysee has never faced in his career.
Provodnikov is a mauler and brawler. He likes to take a few punches to work his way inside. While there, he’ll make his opponent pay. He’s durable and extremely determined. He burst on the boxing scene with a life-and-death struggle with Timothy Bradley two years ago. Provodnikov lost the fight, but dropped Bradley twice and sent the then champion to the hospital.
The iron chinned Provodnikov is very aware of the dynamite that Matthysee carries in both fists.
“Looking at his record, he seems to be one of the biggest punchers of this decade, you know,” Provnikov said. “He’s probably one of the biggest punchers right now. Does it bother me–not at all. It only makes me more excited because I know that this is going to be a real fight and I know that either, you know, I take him or he takes me.”
Matthysee was knocked down twice by Molina and once by Danny Garcia. Some have begun to wonder about the strength of his chin. Matthysee doesn’t believe that Provodniov can hurt him.
“I’m not going to get dropped with Ruslan,” said Matthysee. “So, you don’t have to worry about that. But when Molina dropped me, you know, if the punch was a little bit behind my head. I’m not making excuses, but I’m not going to get dropped. I’m not going to get dropped with Ruslan and that’s not what I’m thinking about.”
The first six rounds of this fight could be laced with explosives. Matthysee will pick his spots and unload. His reach advantage will pay dividends. Provodnikov will work his way inside and do damage. Matthysee will tag him with vicious shots, but also take some hard punches from Provdnikov.
As the bout winds down, Matthysee will pound away on the never-say-die warrior from Russia.
I see him winning the fight by a late stoppage, or a unanimous decision.
- TO WRITE FOR DOGHOUSE BOXING: E-mail John now at: marlow_58@hotmail.com
John J. Raspanti responds to all his emails. Please send all questions and comments to John at: marlow_58@hotmail.com
