NON TITLE BOUT BECOMES A WAR ON SHOWTIME
Lucas Matthysse
Las Vegas, NV-Three heavy favorites fought on Showtime championship boxing on Saturday, but the only fight that truly delivered was the back and forth savagery that was John Molina (27-4, 22 KOs) versus Lucas “La Machina” Matthysse(35-3, 33 KOs). Matthysse came back from adversity to stop Molina in round 11. The participants traded 5 knockdowns in the all-out grudge match. “La Machina”(The machine) looked anything but that in the early going, as the normally slow starter, was hurt in the first and went down twice in the first six rounds. Those set backs as well as a clash of heads that put a cut over his eye created a sense of urgency. Matthysse responded well in the later rounds with a brutal assault against an extremely game challenge from the power punching Molina. Listed as high as an 11-1 underdog, he didn’t fight the way the odds suggested. Considering Matthysse was coming back after a loss in a 140lb title bid against Danny Garcia, it was important to look impressive here. Surely this wasn’t the script he and the oddsmakers had in mind, however the fans sure were happy with the way the bout played out. It was end of your seat action from the opening bell until the last knockdown of Molina in round 11.
ARMY VS NAVY:COLLEGE BOXING IS SECOND BEST CARD OF WEEKEND
Saturday afternoon broadcasting on CBS Sports Network, Army faced off against Navy in a team competition format. Seven total bouts were featured, ranging from 156lbs to heavyweight. It was nonstop action from a competitive group of amateurs representing Westpoint and the Naval academy. Army won 4 of the seven fights, giving their team the victory. It is interesting why USA boxing, who was involved in this particular event, can’t get top level US amateur boxing on television. This event, even with the limited level of the competitors was an extremely entertaining affair. The 2013 Army-Navy classic was a replay that first aired December 13th 2013.
KLITSCHKO AND THURMAN WIN BIG
In a total mismatch WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (62-3, 52 KOs) bludgeoned an overmatched challenger in Alex Leapai (30-5-3, 24 KOs). Saying that the Samoan Leopai was limited was an understatement. Wladimir landed almost 150 punches to only 10 for the Samoan who failed to even attempt any resemblance of an attack. The bout was broadcast on ESPN at 2pm PST, and it is apparent that Klitschko won’t be seen on US TV again until he faces a true credible contender.The problem here is that the division at this stage is woeful, but it’s possible that he faces the winner of Chris Arreola and Bermaine Stiverne who battle May 10th for the WBC heavyweight title vacated by his brother Vitali Klitschko.
147lb contender Keith “One Time” Thurman (23-0, 21 KOs) stopped veteran Julio Diaz(40-10-1, 29 KOs) on Saturday on the main event of Showtime’s Championship boxing card. Thurman came out guns blazing, and from the onset his advantages in speed and power were apparent. The 34 year-old Diaz went down in round two, and didn’t come out for round four citing a rib injury from a body shot in round three. Thurman thrusts himself into the conversation as a credible challenger for any of the belt holders at 147lbs.
-Kevin Perry