Danny Garcia-Lucas Matthysse
GARCIA-MATTHYSEE NEAR “CINCH” TO STEAL FLOYD MAYWEATHER SHOW
San Francisco CA– For all of the hype concerning the upcoming bout with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez challenging Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s ‘pound for pound’ crown, what seems to get lost in most people’s minds is that this fight, although heavily anticipated, will more than likely not even be the most exciting bout on the card this Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. That distinction belongs to the battle between two hard-hitting jr. welters (140), Philadelphia native Danny “Swift” Garcia 26-0 (16 KOs) against Argentinean Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse (34-2 (32 KOs).
TWO PUNCHERS THAT “CATCH” WELL TOO!
We have two men who pack a powerful punch and both possess a solid pair of whiskers, neither having tasted the canvas yet as a professional. That is almost guaranteed to change this Saturday evening. What is just as interesting though is the fact that many believe this bout was staged as the chief undercard to Mayweather in order to be groomed as a future opponent for the ‘pound for pound’ king.
RECORDS DON’T REFLECT WHAT LUCAS HAS LEARNED
Although Danny Garcia is undefeated, his opponent this Saturday could just as easily bare that mark if it were not for two close, controversial, decision losses to fighters in their backyards. Matthysse burst onto the scene of the American boxing public in November of 2010 in his tough loss to Brooklynite Zab Judah in New Jersey. The next year his poor luck struck again when he dropped another close decision to Devon Alexander in St. Louis in a fight most observers felt he won. It should be noted that Matthysse managed to put both fighters on their backs in his “losses” to them, something they couldn’t do in return. Since his loss to Alexander, he has recorded six-straight victories, his recent one being his most impressive. Just four months ago the Argentinean tough-guy brutally stopped Lamont Peterson, something even Tim Bradley, Amir Khan, and Victor Ortiz couldn’t do.
GARCIA FOUGHT HIS WAY UP!
We were introduced to Garcia on ESPN2 with his points wins over Nate Campbell and Kendall Holt. Shortly after this he decisioned Erik Morales on an HBO undercard but the world really started to take notice when he flattened Amir Khan with his trademark left hook in a huge upset. Since then he defeated Morales again (this time by stoppage) and decisioned Zab Judah in a close fight this past April.
ZAB JUDAH ENDORSING THE POWER OF LUCAS
In the post-fight press conference of his fight with Garcia, Judah was asked to use his experience with both men as a reference tool to gauge who would win in a proposed clash between them. He replied, “I can’t be the judge on that but I can say Lucas Matthysse is probably one of the hardest jr. welterweight punchers in the division right now. I mean he’s one of those guys that you shouldn’t sleep on. Danny’s a good strong puncher too but no disrespect to Danny, but nothing like Lucas. Lucas punches hard with either hand.”
RARELY DO THE “KO” NUMBERS FIB!
This isn’t hard to believe. A look at their records reveals that while Garcia has heard the final bell ten times in 26 fights, Matthysse has only had four of his 34 bouts go the distance. This is an astonishing knockout ratio in any era. Judah, a man who has gone toe to toe with other elite fighters such as Kostya Tyszu, Floyd Mayweather, Amir Khan, and Miguel Cotto, frequently credits Matthysse as being the hardest puncher he’s ever faced. “If he (Garcia) stands in front of him (Matthysse), it ends early,” Judah said recently to reporter Ellie Seckbach.
ONE WAY TO LOOK AT THINGS
n all likelihood, Garcia at one point will stand in front of him. He can say that he’s going to make his South American foe miss and pay all he wants but in reality, this isn’t who Danny is. He has never been adept at using angles and movement. Instead he has always been willing to take a few lumps in order to land a big shot of his own.
IS THE MACHINE THE COBRA HERE?
I once saw a rat bite a Cobra king snake in order to avoid becoming prey. Although it was cute to watch this tiny rodent defend himself in an attempt at survival, it was only a matter of time before he was crushed and swallowed.
AND THE NAVA BOTTOM LINE IS!
Matthysse is a methodical destroyer. Garcia will have his moments and put up a game effort. But “swift” he isn’t. Even if his chin pass the tests of Argentinean bombs, his defense has always been lacking and he will eventually succumb to vicious body shots from the Machine, forcing his loudmouthed father to pick up his body off the canvas. Meanwhile, Matthysse can rest in his reign at 140lb. supremacy then return to a ringside seat to ponder a meeting with favorite in the main event of the night.
Jason B. Nava