Lucas Matthysse seemed to have been overwhelmed too much about a possible fight with Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao that he forgot all about Viktor Postol. And for that, he paid a pretty hefty price.
With word around that Matthysse is being groomed as the top candidate for Pacquiao come 2016, the Argentine brawler seemed to have lost focus. And the eventual benefactor is the Ukrainian boxer who remains perfect, but more importantly the new WBC super lightweight champion.
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Postol's feat was deemed as an upset when the two got it on at the StubHub Center Saturday. Regardless, Postol still comes out as the winner, scoring a huge knockout victory over Matthysse in the 10th round.
Postol, who is ironically handled by Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach, improved to 28-0, 12 coming from KOs. Matthysse walked straight into the right hand of the Ukrainian that resulted in him crashing to the canvass.
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"He's a really great opponent, really strong," Postol, who is from Ukraine, said via ESPN. "I didn't want to knock him out. I didn't plan to do that. I just came into the fight and wanted to relax and box, and do what I do best. And the knockout came. It's all great."
The loss not only tarnishes Matthysse’s record (37-4, 34 KOs), but dashes all hopes of possibly setting up a match with Pacquiao in early 2016. Aside from that, the defeat also deprived the Argentine brawler from finally winning an official major world title.
With the loss, it remains to be seen if Pacquiao’s camp will divert its focus on British fighter Amir Khan, the other boxer at the top of their wish list.
Khan was actually the frontrunner before Matthysse was surprisingly promoted as the top choice.
Other names previously mentioned as Pacquiao’s possible opponent upon his return next year include Juan Manuel Marquez, Terrence Crawford and Kell Brook.
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