Lucas Matthysse Likely to Replace Jorge Barrios Against Erik Morales

In a turn of events that could end a lot of complaining, it appears that Jorge Barrios is having legal issues leaving Argentina, and because of that, Lucas Matthysse will likely be facing Erik Morales on the Mayweather vs Ortiz undercard.

This is quite the switch-up for Morales, who goes from facing a rusty fighter who has never fought at 140 pounds to facing one of the best junior welterweights in the world, a hard hitter who many felt was shafted in his last two fights on U.S. soil against Zab Judah and Devon Alexander.

The fight would still be for the WBC's vacant junior welterweight title, but is now a far more legitimate bout. It doesn't change my complaint that the September 30 fight between Ajose Olusegun and Ali Chebah should have been sanctioned for the title after the WBC chose to strip Timothy Bradley (or call him "champion in recess," whichever sounds more real to you), as the WBC was already calling it an eliminator. But Matthysse (28-2, 26 KO) is a serious contender in the division, and Morales is back-end top 10 at this point. It's a real fight.

Does anyone think Morales can beat Matthysse? I think Lucas has to be considered a serious favorite here, but Morales pushed Marcos Maidana to the brink in April. I would say Matthysse is a better boxer than Maidana, and Morales may not be able to outfox him as easily, but are you giving Morales a legit shot here to pull out another great performance and maybe take this one?

Source: http://www.badlefthook.com/2011/8/2/2340037/erik-morales-vs-lucas-matthysse-mayweather-vs-ortiz-undercard-jorge-barrios

Apparently Barrios has some kind of manslaughter charges!

alma wrote:And would Khan be interested in fighting Matthysse?

Would have thought so! He seems to be overlooked in all this WBC mess.

Dazstarr wrote:Apparently Barrios has some kind of manslaughter charges!

God, alledgely kill some one these days and you can't even leave the country. The nanny state gone mad!!

alma wrote:And would Khan be interested in fighting Matthysse?

A more skilled Maidana? Shouldn't think so!

bhb001 wrote:

Dazstarr wrote:Apparently Barrios has some kind of manslaughter charges!

God, alledgely kill some one these days and you can't even leave the country. The nanny state gone mad!!

Scottrf wrote:

alma wrote:And would Khan be interested in fighting Matthysse?

A more skilled Maidana? Shouldn't think so!

Wouldnt be a bad fight - i would like to see it.

The networks and Goldenboy seem to have Khan vs Morales already set up so Matthysse will probably get robbed (again).

Or Khan will more than likely pull a Manny stunt and beat Morales off the back of a loss and claim it as a credible win.

This whole WBC thing stinks to high heavens. They are trying everything to get the belt to Khan. As the OP mentioned Ajose Olusegun and Ali Chebah should have been sanctioned for the title after the WBC.

What has Morales done to warrant a title shot? Honestly. Its a joke.

WBC are a Mexican organisation Morales is trying to be the first Mexican to win belts at 4 weights. Fully expect Morales vs Gavin Rees to be sanctioned for the WBC LWW belt any day soon.

Hang on. Morales vs Matthysse for a vacant belt? Aren't they BOTH coming off losses..?

BALTIMORA wrote:Hang on. Morales vs Matthysse for a vacant belt? Aren't they BOTH coming off losses..?

Draw and a win IMO.

Don't get the hype around Matthyse, i mean he couldn't get past the woeful Judah in a close fight and had an extremely close fight with the apparent new Jeff Lacy in Devon Alexander.

Whoever wins the fight will be embarassed by Khan/Bradley, quite simply they're a level below those two.

coxy0001 wrote:Don't get the hype around Matthyse, i mean he couldn't get past the woeful Judah in a close fight and had an extremely close fight with the apparent new Jeff Lacy in Devon Alexander.

Whoever wins the fight will be embarassed by Khan/Bradley, quite simply they're a level below those two.

Have to agree with Coxy on this one. How anyone can say Matthyse is one of the big players of the LWW division is beyond me. As the honourable Tory lad just said, couldn't get past two fighters who are average and this in turn slots Matthyse into the "average" bracket himself.

There is no denying that Khan is leagues about these types but Goldenboy, HBO etc seem to be acting like snakes in order to deliver Khan to Mayweather IMO.

They did it with Hatton. After the Castillo win. And lets face it, Hatton entered the P4P charts without really fighting top drawer fighters. I see Hatton's careers on repeat here.

Not Khans doing by the way, the promoters and network have this all wrapped up in the bag.

Scottrf wrote:

BALTIMORA wrote:Hang on. Morales vs Matthysse for a vacant belt? Aren't they BOTH coming off losses..?

Draw and a win IMO.

Two losses then? Thing is, if the governing bodies want to take their rankings seriously, then people should also be expected to take scorecard decisions seriously. In this instance if we're to disregard the results as you're saying, then why should we not also disregard the supposed validity of this vacancy match-up? Sometimes I really hate this sport.

I think this is an improvement on the Barrios match-up. Mathysse to win by late TKO (let's face it, he isn't going to get the decision!) to set-up and easy night's work for Khan who would gain another belt off a more credible opponent than Morales (although smaller name admittedly) and another good chin test as his record shows him to be a bit of a banger.

Khan could then take out Bradley (tough points win, maybe SD/MD) and have a better claim to have cleared out the division before moving onto bigger things at 147.

TopHat24/7 wrote:I think this is an improvement on the Barrios match-up. Mathysse to win by late TKO (let's face it, he isn't going to get the decision!) to set-up and easy night's work for Khan who would gain another belt off a more credible opponent than Morales (although smaller name admittedly) and another good chin test as his record shows him to be a bit of a banger.

Khan could then take out Bradley (tough points win, maybe SD/MD) and have a better claim to have cleared out the division before moving onto bigger things at 147.

The belt situation is still a joke, but at least there's one credible name involved now. Alexander was #2 at light welter before the Bradley fight, and Lucas should have a win over him too so I'm not sure how he isn't as big a player as anyone behind Kahn and Bradley. I really think Lucas is underrated and will give Kahn more problems than anyone else in the division. As big a puncher as anyone else at 140 and very precise, can deal with speed too.

Matthyse deserves a shot, he is undefeated in my eyes and was utterly robbed v Alexander, i know it was close but he clearly won that one. So i am glad, but it's happening under strange circs. Be a great fight while it lasted tho


www.maineventboxing.wordpress.com

lets face it Matthysse should have a perfect record with wins over Judah then Alexander....so if he got justice on both nights he would surely be up with Khan and Bradley for no.1, have a feeling Khan may duck a better version of Maidana (which Matthysse is possessing more power and speed with both hands, better footwork, better fundamentals and a solid chin)

Khan said he will fight whoever wins the WBC belt as he wants another unification fight, so this means he will most likely facing this "Better version of Maidana" seeing as Bradley isn't going to fight him he is only having one more fight at LWW then moving up to WW, according to the BBC that is...