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LUCAS MATTHYSE VS. ZAB JUDAH
A curious fight for Zab Judah as he drops down to the junior welterweight division to
take on an unknown knockout artist from Argentina, Lucas Matthyse. Matthyse is the
younger brother of Walter Matthyse who is best known for being the victim of highlight
reel knockouts at the hands of Paul Williams and Kermit Cintron. Judah is fighting for
a crown he once held back in 2003, the WBO jr. welterweight title. Matthyse, with a
stellar record of 27-0(25), may be Argentina’s latest slugger following in the footsteps
of Marcos Maidana.
Record
ZAB JUDAH: Judah is 39-6-2 with 27 knockouts. He is a former IBF junior
welterweight champion who made five defenses before losing to Kostya Tszyu inside of
two rounds in a unification match. He won the unified welterweight crown from Cory
Spinks before dropping back to back decisions against the woeful Carlos Baldomir
and Floyd Mayweather.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Record is a sterling 27-0 with 25 knockouts. Has fought out
of his native Argentina only four times. Only one fighter (Carlos Jerez) has lasted the
distance, the other non-knockout victim was a disqualification victory.
Age and physical equipment
ZAB JUDAH: Judah seems to have been around forever. He made his debut in
September of 1996. Suffered a brutal beat down at the hands of Miguel Cotto in 2007
but other than that, is a young looking 33 year old. Lack of focus has been a problem
throughout his whole career. When focused, Judah is an excellent blend of speed and
power. When he is off his game, he can be exasperating to watch.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Is 28 years old and therefore should be in his physical prime.
Matthyse turned pro in June of 2004. Seems susceptible to swelling as his eye blew up
badly against Vivian Harris.
Previous fight
ZAB JUDAH: Scored a third round stoppage over Jose Armando Santa Cruz in July.
Nailed Santa Cruz with a huge left uppercut as Santa Cruz waded in. It marked the
return of Judah to the junior welterweight division. It looks like his management team
are making one last go at reviving the career of the fighter once touted as the second
coming of Pernell Whitaker.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Scored a first round knockout over 15-fight loser Rogelio
Castaneda. Prior to this bout, Matthyse scored the biggest victory of his career with a
fourth round stoppage over Vivian Harris. To say the Harris fight was stopped
prematurely would be the understatement of the year. Matthyse was in control but
suffered from a badly swollen right eye. He landed a hard combination on Harris which
stunned the former contender for a moment and the referee inexplicably stepped in to
stop the bout. It was a blatant early stoppage and the corruption was obvious.
Matthyse was coming on and did not need this kind of help.
Best weapons:
ZAB JUDAH: A mean left uppercut…Judah possesses underestimated power. He
stung Mayweather early and busted Cotto up. Judah additionally uses a swift cross
which felled Cory Spinks. He is also not given credit for having opportunistic killer
instinct when the need arises.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Throws “El gancho”, the Mexican left hook to the liver, with
great force. Often doubles up on the left hook to the body and head. Goes to the body
in a manner similar to Julio Cesar Chavez (not saying he is as effective but he utilizes
parallel techniques.)
Quality of opposition
ZAB JUDAH: Judah has fought the best the welterweight and junior welterweight
divisions. He has failed but for the most part remained competitive against the murderer’
s row of Mayweather, Cotto, and Tszyu. Big advantage for Judah here.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Has feasted on a host of no name opponents in his native
Argentina. Nontheless, his record suggests early round power. The opponents he is
facing are mediocre but he is disposing them in quick fashion. His only name opponent
was Vivian Harris and the referee bailed him out on that one.
Defense
ZAB JUDAH: Southpaw stance and great speed make him an elusive target when he
wants to be. Mostly uses his legs to back out of trouble. Is defensively capable but
loses focus. Judah has a sturdy chin despite his knockout loss versus Tszyu. The
stoppage loss to Cotto was more achieved through attrition.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Utilizes a high guard. Steps to his opponent behind a popping
left jab. Seeks to get inside to throw body shots. Does not move his head much.
Style
ZAB JUDAH: A speedy southpaw who fights like someone who has attention deficit
disorder. Flashes a pawing right jab to set up fast power shots which come courtesy of
a left cross or uppercut. Takes unnecessary risks but speed and athletic ability allow
him to get away with breaking the rules. Can simply overwhelm opponents who are
slow of hands and feet. Can look offensively awesome at times, other times he is simply
content to dance and flick out a harmless jab.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: An aggressive body puncher and can be likened to a poor
man’s Julio Cesar Chavez. Walks his opponent down with digging left hooks to the
body. His record would indicate a power puncher but as he steps in up class he’ll gain
stoppages through attrition rather than knockouts. Slow of foot and has only above
average hand speed.
The Questions
ZAB JUDAH: Is he now filling the role of a stepping stone? Can he stop being so
hyper and focus? Has he gotten better under the tutelage of Eddie Mustafa
Muhammad?
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Can he take a punch? How will he react on the big stage?
Will he swell up after taking Judah’s big shots?
Outcome
Matthyse will follow the speedier Judah around the ring. Judah will pepper him with the
right jab and the occasional left cross/uppercut. The fight will eventually turn out to be
Miguel Cotto redux for Judah. Matthyse may swell up and be behind on points when
his body attack will finally take its toll. His punch output will increase by the round and
he’ll stop Judah around the tenth. Lucas Matthyse will be the new name bandied about
in the hot junior welterweight division.
A curious fight for Zab Judah as he drops down to the junior welterweight division to
take on an unknown knockout artist from Argentina, Lucas Matthyse. Matthyse is the
younger brother of Walter Matthyse who is best known for being the victim of highlight
reel knockouts at the hands of Paul Williams and Kermit Cintron. Judah is fighting for
a crown he once held back in 2003, the WBO jr. welterweight title. Matthyse, with a
stellar record of 27-0(25), may be Argentina’s latest slugger following in the footsteps
of Marcos Maidana.
Record
ZAB JUDAH: Judah is 39-6-2 with 27 knockouts. He is a former IBF junior
welterweight champion who made five defenses before losing to Kostya Tszyu inside of
two rounds in a unification match. He won the unified welterweight crown from Cory
Spinks before dropping back to back decisions against the woeful Carlos Baldomir
and Floyd Mayweather.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Record is a sterling 27-0 with 25 knockouts. Has fought out
of his native Argentina only four times. Only one fighter (Carlos Jerez) has lasted the
distance, the other non-knockout victim was a disqualification victory.
Age and physical equipment
ZAB JUDAH: Judah seems to have been around forever. He made his debut in
September of 1996. Suffered a brutal beat down at the hands of Miguel Cotto in 2007
but other than that, is a young looking 33 year old. Lack of focus has been a problem
throughout his whole career. When focused, Judah is an excellent blend of speed and
power. When he is off his game, he can be exasperating to watch.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Is 28 years old and therefore should be in his physical prime.
Matthyse turned pro in June of 2004. Seems susceptible to swelling as his eye blew up
badly against Vivian Harris.
Previous fight
ZAB JUDAH: Scored a third round stoppage over Jose Armando Santa Cruz in July.
Nailed Santa Cruz with a huge left uppercut as Santa Cruz waded in. It marked the
return of Judah to the junior welterweight division. It looks like his management team
are making one last go at reviving the career of the fighter once touted as the second
coming of Pernell Whitaker.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Scored a first round knockout over 15-fight loser Rogelio
Castaneda. Prior to this bout, Matthyse scored the biggest victory of his career with a
fourth round stoppage over Vivian Harris. To say the Harris fight was stopped
prematurely would be the understatement of the year. Matthyse was in control but
suffered from a badly swollen right eye. He landed a hard combination on Harris which
stunned the former contender for a moment and the referee inexplicably stepped in to
stop the bout. It was a blatant early stoppage and the corruption was obvious.
Matthyse was coming on and did not need this kind of help.
Best weapons:
ZAB JUDAH: A mean left uppercut…Judah possesses underestimated power. He
stung Mayweather early and busted Cotto up. Judah additionally uses a swift cross
which felled Cory Spinks. He is also not given credit for having opportunistic killer
instinct when the need arises.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Throws “El gancho”, the Mexican left hook to the liver, with
great force. Often doubles up on the left hook to the body and head. Goes to the body
in a manner similar to Julio Cesar Chavez (not saying he is as effective but he utilizes
parallel techniques.)
Quality of opposition
ZAB JUDAH: Judah has fought the best the welterweight and junior welterweight
divisions. He has failed but for the most part remained competitive against the murderer’
s row of Mayweather, Cotto, and Tszyu. Big advantage for Judah here.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Has feasted on a host of no name opponents in his native
Argentina. Nontheless, his record suggests early round power. The opponents he is
facing are mediocre but he is disposing them in quick fashion. His only name opponent
was Vivian Harris and the referee bailed him out on that one.
Defense
ZAB JUDAH: Southpaw stance and great speed make him an elusive target when he
wants to be. Mostly uses his legs to back out of trouble. Is defensively capable but
loses focus. Judah has a sturdy chin despite his knockout loss versus Tszyu. The
stoppage loss to Cotto was more achieved through attrition.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Utilizes a high guard. Steps to his opponent behind a popping
left jab. Seeks to get inside to throw body shots. Does not move his head much.
Style
ZAB JUDAH: A speedy southpaw who fights like someone who has attention deficit
disorder. Flashes a pawing right jab to set up fast power shots which come courtesy of
a left cross or uppercut. Takes unnecessary risks but speed and athletic ability allow
him to get away with breaking the rules. Can simply overwhelm opponents who are
slow of hands and feet. Can look offensively awesome at times, other times he is simply
content to dance and flick out a harmless jab.
LUCAS MATTHYSE: An aggressive body puncher and can be likened to a poor
man’s Julio Cesar Chavez. Walks his opponent down with digging left hooks to the
body. His record would indicate a power puncher but as he steps in up class he’ll gain
stoppages through attrition rather than knockouts. Slow of foot and has only above
average hand speed.
The Questions
ZAB JUDAH: Is he now filling the role of a stepping stone? Can he stop being so
hyper and focus? Has he gotten better under the tutelage of Eddie Mustafa
Muhammad?
LUCAS MATTHYSE: Can he take a punch? How will he react on the big stage?
Will he swell up after taking Judah’s big shots?
Outcome
Matthyse will follow the speedier Judah around the ring. Judah will pepper him with the
right jab and the occasional left cross/uppercut. The fight will eventually turn out to be
Miguel Cotto redux for Judah. Matthyse may swell up and be behind on points when
his body attack will finally take its toll. His punch output will increase by the round and
he’ll stop Judah around the tenth. Lucas Matthyse will be the new name bandied about
in the hot junior welterweight division.
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