Lucas Matthysse


Lucas Martín Matthysse is an Argentine former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2018. He held the WBA welterweight title in 2018 and the WBC interim super lightweight title from 2012 to 2013. Matthysse is known for his aggressive pressure fighting style and formidable punching power. His older brother, Walter, is also a former professional boxer.

Amateur career

During his amateur career, Matthysse fought in the 2003 Pan American Games at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he went on to stop Colombia's Breidis Prescott in just the first round.
Lucas has faced Marcos Maidana four times in the amateurs with Maidana winning three times while fighting the fourth to a draw.

Professional career

Light welterweight

In June 2004, Lucas won his pro debut against Leandro Almagro, on a card that also featured his brother Walter.

Matthysse vs. Judah

On 6 November 2010 Matthysse lost a very disputed split decision against former world champion Zab Judah in the main event of an HBO card. Judah began the busier fighter, using the jab and trying to land uppercuts for the first two rounds, while Matthysse worked on the body. In round three, a clash of heads opened a cut outside of the left eye of Judah. Matthysse displayed more aggression and became the aggressor in the third and the fourth round and Judah switched to a defensive tactic. In the next two rounds, the American boxer picked up the pace, beginning to land more combinations. Judah continued to box throughout the ninth round but Matthysse began to show more power in the tenth, focusing on the head of his opponent and knocking down the American boxer after a hard right hand to the jaw. Judah got up, but he was hurt. The Argentine fighter tried to press the attack after the knockdown. Two judges scored the fight 114–113 for Judah, while the other judge scored it 114–113 for Matthysse.

Matthysse vs. Alexander

On 25 June 2011 Matthysse faced former world champion Devon Alexander and lost another close, but hugely controversial split decision. The judges in the Family Arena in St. Charles had the fight 96–93 and 95–94 for Alexander, and 96–93 for Matthysse.

Matthysse vs. Martínez, Soto and Olusegun

Lucas was forced to withdraw from a fight versus Erik Morales in one of the featured bouts on the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz HBO PPV undercard at the MGM Grand in Paradise, Nevada, citing a viral infection that had kept him from training.
Lucas fought Mexican Martín Ángel Martínez on 10 February 2012 for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental light welterweight title at the Gimnasio Municipal, Chubut, Argentina in a scheduled 12 round bout. The Mexican retired after the 5th round.
The stay-busy victory over the 20-year-old Mexican fighter set up a Showtime televised showdown between Matthysse and former 130-pound and lightweight beltholder Humberto Soto on 23 June 2012. Both fighters traded big shots in the opening rounds but the Matthysse was able to land consistent big body shots and came through this fight with another fifth round TKO.
Matthysse then faced undefeated Nigerian-born British professional boxer Ajose Olusegun on 8 September 2012. Olusegun had been declared the mandatory challenger for the WBC light welterweight title going into the fight. The first few rounds were good exchanges for the two brawlers. However, on the tenth round the hard punches from the Argentinian proved too much for the unbeaten Nigerian and therefore the referee stopped the fight via 10th round TKO.

Matthysse vs. Peterson

On 18 May 2013 Matthysse faced Lamont Peterson in a non title match in Atlantic City, New Jersey. At the end of the second round Matthysse landed a hard right hand to the body followed of a left hook to the head, that knocked Peterson down. In the third round Matthysse kept the pressure on Peterson, knocking him down twice in that round. At 46 seconds of round 3 referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight after the second Peterson knock down. The winner via TKO was Matthysse.
After the fight, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Richard Schaefer, declared Matthysse the next Manny Pacquiao.
The victory was considered the biggest of Matthysse's career, and his first step in the door to super stardom. He then faced unified 140 lb champion Danny García on 14 September 2013 as part of the undercard to the Floyd Mayweather vs. Saul Alvarez main event.

Matthysse vs. García

Going into his fight on 14 September against García, Matthysse was a heavy favorite despite being the challenger. Nevertheless, García stood firm and fought a mature fight, trading rounds early with Matthysse. In the middle rounds, Matthysse developed an injury to his right eye from García's flinched right hand, which the young champ exploited. Matthysee bravely battled back, but García knocked him down in the 11th round, a first for the challenger. The twelfth round saw García lose a point for a low blow, and ended in a slug-fest. The last ten seconds of round 12 proved thrilling, both fighters went toe to toe. In the end, the judges handed García a unanimous decision: 115–111, 114–112 and 114–112.

Matthysse vs. Postol

On 3 October 2015 Matthysse once again went in as a solid favorite to defeat the undefeated Ukrainian Viktor Postol. But Postol was able to take advantage of his four-inch reach advantage and outwork Matthysse from the outside before sealing the fight with a counter right hand that knocked Matthysse down. Matthysse then made no attempt to get up from the canvas citing a potential injury in his eye in his post-fight interview. He would spend a year-and-a-half out of the ring after undergoing eye surgery and taking time off to recover.

Matthysse vs. Pacquiao

Matthysse defended his WBA welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao on 15 July 2018 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. Pacquiao won the fight via TKO in round 7, marking the first time in nine years that Pacquiao had finished an opponent. Matthysse subsequently announced his retirement from boxing on 2 August 2018.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
45Loss39–5 Manny PacquiaoTKO7, 2:4315 Jul 2018 Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaLost WBA welterweight title
44Win39–4 Tewa KiramKO8, 1:2127 Jan 2018 The Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won vacant WBA welterweight title
43Win38–4 Emanuel TaylorTKO5, 2:216 May 2017 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental and WBO International welterweight titles
42Loss37–4 Viktor PostolKO10, 2:583 Oct 2015 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.For vacant WBC light welterweight title
41Win37–3 Ruslan Provodnikov1218 Apr 2015 Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.
40Win36–3 Roberto OrtizKO2, 2:456 Sep 2014 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.Won WBC Silver light welterweight title
39Win35–3 John Molina Jr.KO11, 0:2226 Apr 2014 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC Continental Americas light welterweight title
38Loss34–3 Danny GarcíaUD1214 Sep 2013 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBA, WBC, vacant The Ring and lineal light welterweight titles
37Win34–2 Lamont PetersonTKO3, 2:1418 May 2013 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
36Win33–2 Mike Dallas Jr.KO1, 2:2626 Jan 2013 The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC interim light welterweight title
35Win32–2 Ajose OlusegunTKO10, 2:598 Sep 2012 The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBC interim light welterweight title
34Win31–2 Humberto SotoRTD5, 3:0023 Jun 2012 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Won WBC Inter-Continental light welterweight title
33Win30–2 Martín Ángel MartínezTKO6, 0:0110 Feb 2012 Gimnasio Municipal Nº 1, Trelew, ArgentinaWon vacant WBA Inter-Continental light welterweight title
32Win29–2 Sergio Omar PriottiKO4, 0:279 Dec 2011 Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Argentina
31Loss28–2 Devon AlexanderSD1025 Jun 2011 Family Arena, St. Charles, Missouri, U.S.
30Win28–1 DeMarcus CorleyTKO8, 1:0221 Jan 2011 Polideportivo Vicente Polimeni, Las Heras, ArgentinaWon vacant WBO Inter-Continental light welterweight title
29Loss27–1 Zab Judah126 Nov 2010 Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.For vacant WBO–NABO light welterweight title
28Win27–0 Rogelio Castañeda Jr.KO1, 2:3528 Aug 2010 Newell's Old Boys, Santa Fe, ArgentinaRetained WBO Latino interim light welterweight title
27Win26–0 Vivian HarrisTKO4, 2:4420 Feb 2010 El Plaza Condesa, Mexico City, Mexico
26Win25–0 Florencio CastellanoKO4 21 Nov 2009 Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaWon WBO Latino interim light welterweight title
25Win24–0 Luis Ernesto JoséKO2 21 Apr 2009 Newell's Old Boys, Santa Fe, Argentina
24Win23–0 Carlos Adán Jerez1020 Dec 2008 Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Argentina
2322–0 Rogelio Castañeda Jr.NC3, 0:5012 Sep 2008 QuikTrip Park, Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.NC after Castañeda was cut from an accidental head clash
22Win22–0 Gilbert QuirosTKO4 13 Jun 2008 Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Argentina
21Win21–0 Jorge MedranoRTD4 29 Feb 2008 Parque Prado, General Arenales, Argentina
20Win20–0 Esteban de Jesus MoralesKO2 2 Nov 2007 Rojas, Argentina
19Win19–0 Ariel Francisco BurgosKO4, 2:142 Jun 2007 Ciclista Juninense, Junín, ArgentinaRetained WBO Latino light welterweight title
18Win18–0 Ramon DuranKO1, 2:054 May 2007 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
17Win17–0 Alejandro CiaciaKO1, 0:5530 Mar 2007 Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Argentina
16Win16–0 Diego Jesús PonceKO2, 0:5621 Oct 2006 Ciclista Juninense, Junín, ArgentinaRetained WBO Latino light welterweight title
15Win15–0 Justo Evangelista MartínezKO2, 2:101 Sep 2006 Club Atletico Sportivo Rojas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
14Win14–0 Ceferino ZampattiKO1, 1:407 Jul 2006 Polideportivo Municipal Nº 2, Buenos Aires, Argentina
13Win13–0 Hernan Abraham ValenzuelaTKO1, 2:355 May 2006 Ciclista Juninense, Junín, Argentina
12Win12–0 Victor Daniel RiosKO2, 2:131 Apr 2006 Unión, Santa Fe, ArgentinaWon vacant WBO Latino light welterweight title
11Win11–0 Hernan Abraham ValenzuelaRTD3 17 Mar 2006 Club Rivadavia, Lincoln, Argentina
10Win10–0 Vicente Luis BurgoKO2, 1:0116 Dec 2005 Club Atlético Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
9Win9–0 Jorge Alberto CarballoTKO2 25 Nov 2005 Estadio Socios Fundadores, Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
8Win8–0 Marcelo Omar LazarteRTD3, 2:548 Oct 2005 Club Atlético Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina
7Win7–0 Jesus Ceferino Vergara1, 1:1812 Aug 2005 Orfeo Superdomo, Córdoba, Argentina
6Win6–0 Nestor Fabian SanchezTKO3 18 Apr 2005 Hotel Cordoba Plaza, Córdoba, Argentina
5Win5–0 Hugo Antonio AquinoKO1 18 Feb 2005 Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
4Win4–0 Adan Basilio Mironchik1 13 Nov 2004 Club Atlético Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3Win3–0 Bernardino Gonzalez3 3 Sep 2004 Estadio Socios Fundadores, Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
2Win2–0 Luis Roberto AguilarTKO1, 2:4417 Jul 2004 Club Ciclista Juninense, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1Win1–0 Leandro Almagro2 4 Jun 2004 Gimnasio Municipal Nº 1, Trelew, Argentina