By Ernest Gabion
While the boxing world is captivated by the September 14th super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, there is another highly anticipated fight that fans have been speculating about with great enthusiasm.
On one side we have Lucas "The Machine" Matthysse. Matthysse burst on the boxing scene in grand fashion with a series of devastating performances, culminating with a demonstrative 3rd round stoppage of IBF Light Welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson this past May. Matthysse sports a record of 34 wins, 32 of those wins by knockout, with two disputed losses to Zab Judah and Devon Alexander
Ringside at Matthysse's victory over Peterson was the other half of this proposed light welterweight showdown, Danny "Swift" Garcia, who also made quite a splash upon boxing with a stellar 2012 that saw him grab both the WBA and WBC titles.
It seemed like a natural fit that The Machine and Swift would head to a clash sometime in the immediate future. Unlike past proposed dream match ups, this fight does not possess any of the hang ups that have stalled fights like Abner Mares vs Nonito Donaire from happening. Both have the same promoter and manager (Golden Boy Promotions and Al Haymon respectively), both are seemingly at or near their primes and both have taken on an accelerated ascent through the 140lb rankings.
However, as this article goes to print the fight has yet to materialize in spite of several key Golden Boy personnel stating this fight was close to happening. CEO of Golden Boy, Richard Schaefer, told BoxingScene.com's Rick Reeno that this fight was close to happening on proposed date of September 7th, with the Staples Center and Dodger Stadium, which are both located in Los Angeles, as possible venues. Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez, appeared on Boxing Scene Radio and advised them that he was confident that the fight would take place and that Schaefer advised him to make this a priority.
Schaefer would later tell BoxingScene's Keith Idec that Garcia-Matthysse was likely moving away from the date of September 7, with a new date landing later in the fall.
"I have done everything in my power to make this fight with Danny Garcia and as of right now the hold up is with Garcia or his team" Matthysse told BoxingScene.com today "Everything on our side has been agreed upon all terms given to us seem to be fine with me and my team."
Matthysse has not been shy about his wishes for a Garcia and he affirmed that once again.
"We clearly have wanted this fight for sometime." Matthysse, "we clearly are doing everything we can to make this fight happen with Garcia but it seems to be Garcia or Garcia's team are the ones hesitant on making a fight with me for whatever reason"
As to why there is a hold up of this fight Matthysse is unsure. One thing that does not seem to be putting the fight on hold is the rumor that Matthysse had been hesitant on possible testing being proposed for a Garcia clash.
"I am not sure why this fight hasn't already been made it is not up to me to make Garcia agree. I can only take care of my side and my team and we have handled that. We have no problem with dates, we have no problem with money, and we have no problems with testing."
While they indeed have set their sites on Garcia they are willing to move on should Garcia pass on this fight.
"The WBC has mandated that Garcia is to fight Lucas for the title and we will abide by that," an advisor for Matthysse told me while translating for Matthysse. "If Garcia does indeed choose not to fight Lucas then we will ask the WBC to strip him of his title and Lucas will fight someone for the title once vacated but do not get us wrong we want to fight Garcia for that title"
Matthysse concluded his short interview with BoxingScene with assurances that he wants to back up his claims that he wants to prove he is the best.
"I have said I am the best fighter in my division and one of the best in the world. A win over Garcia would prove that and that's what we want to prove we are the best"
"I want the best, I want this fight, I want to show who Lucas Matthysse is. It's up to Danny now. He says he is the best. What better way to prove it than to fight each other?"
To hear more from Lucas Matthysse tune into Boxing Scene Radio this Tuesday at 6pm PT
To hear more from Matthysse here are some archived interviews he has done with BScene Radio
Sept 4th 2012 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/boxingsceneradio/2012/09/05/the-boxing-lab-boxingscenes-official-audio-show
Ernest Gabion, is the host of BoxingScene's official radio show Boxing Scene Radio. BScene Radio airs Tuesdays at 6pm PT.
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