Call For Immediate Rematch - Garcia vs Matthysse

[Tanzio]

First of all, I have always been a big Danny Garcia fan (I have always considered him underrated, and I picked him to KTFO Khan), and I am also a big fan of Lucas Matthysse. I have been adamantly calling for Danny to get his shot v FMJ, on more than one thread since his victory. I was happy for Team Garcia in victory, and felt that Matthysse put up a valiant effort that fell just short, thanks to Danny skills mixed in with the swing of fortune.

Then I went back and studied the fight. As a result I am calling for an immediate rematch. I hope that all reading this will go back and study the fight and decide for yourselves.

Originally, I had Danny winning by 114-113, on the strength of a two point 11th round as a result of the KD:

1. 10-9 Danny
2. 9-10 Lucas
3. 10-9 Danny
4. 10-9 Danny
5. 9-10 Lucas
6. 9-10 Lucas
7. 9-10 Lucas
8. 10-9 Danny
9. 10-9 Danny
10. 9-10 Lucas
11. 10-8 Danny
12. 9-10 Lucas

Total = 114-113 Garcia

After reviewng / studying the fight, I feel that it was a draw, because the 11th should have been 10-9 (not 10-8) Danny. I am not basing my call for a rematch on the fact that this was an extremely close fight, but rather on the following:

1. The referee was guilty of borderline criminal negligence for his failure to penalize Garcia earlier for his uncountable low blows. There should have been a point taken away no later than the 4th round, and Danny should possibly have been DQed for his actions, that most certainly effected his competitor's performance.

I am a big Mares fan, but I felt his actions in Agbeko I were terrible and obviously a conscious strategy. There was an uproar after that fight, and Mares faced deserved criticism.

Danny Garcia's performance was planned strategy that reached at least as bad a level as Mares' but in my opinion surpassed it. Team Garcia went in with the plan to hit Matthysse low and often, especially directly after being tagged. Danny consciously attacked Matthysse's lower hips, with special emphasis / focus on the lower right hip.

The referee is to blame and he should be penalized for his performance.

There were also several direct shots to the groin area. The only penalty dished out to Garcia was similar to NFL referees who allow holding by one team on every play, until the game is out of reach, in order to give a false sense of fairness.

The low blows were completely over the line, from the 2nd round on. There should be an immediate rematch for this reason alone.

2. The 11th round KD was completely illegitimate. It was the result of an obvious pull behind the head by Danny that spun Matthysse into the ropes and entangled him. The ref allowed Danny to continue punching while Matthysse was entangled. It was not close. It was absolutely atrocious refereeing.

Without that KD it is a 10-8 round (at least) for Matthysse. As it was, the entire round was completely dominated by Lucas, with the exception of the obviously illegitimate KD. Therefore I scored it 10-9 for Danny, though it should have been 10-8 for Lucas.

Originally, I scored it 10-8, as I believe most did.

Conclusion; with decent refereeing this fight would have had a much different outcome on the surface / obviously.

1. Lucas would not have had to absorb the ridiculous amount of low blows that under the best of circumstances would effect performance on the mobility and power levels.

2. The early point deduction would have made Team Garcia alter their game plan or face DQ. That does not mean that Matthysse necessarily would have won, just that we would have witnessed a fair contest.

3. This was worse than Mares v Agbeko I, and in that case an immediate rematch was demanded and took place.

Maybe the same thing would happen as did in Mares v Agbeko II; Danny would be forced to win legitimately and put on a dominant performance. The fact is that ALL of the evidence is there for anyone who is objective to come to the conclusion that Lucas Matthysse deserves an immediate rematch.

[Wa1nuts]

Garcia won the fight by a few rounds for me, I agree a point should have been deducted for the low blows, maybe Matthysse should have complained a bit more after realising the ref wasn't doing anything about it. But I still had him winning the fight by a few points, no need for a re-match IMO.

[TJ77]

I agree there where lots of low blows but Lucas did not get a closed eye from getting hit in the balls.
This was the reason he lost the fight Danny moved left and picked him off with accurate shots Lucas could not see coming.
It was a great fight that does not need repeating.
Garcia won and moves on.


What the hell has happened to the text on this thread.

[DMA1987]

I'm happy with the result to be honest. Matthyse didn't look like he was complaining with the result either.

[Final round]

I would watch it again but tbh Garcia handled the Argie rather well who I suspect thought after the Peterson win all he had to does was connect to Kayo and had zero plan b.
Garcia's low blows going unpunished was very poor though.

[lefty]

A lot of the low blows were a result of Matthysse pulling down on Garcia's head as he went to throw the left hook, which in turn led to it straying low.

[macaca]

Groundhog Day
Wow, Lucas gets another super close decision go against him.
He doesn't give a fornicate, he will be back and will be champion of the world one day soon.
Great work though with your post, really interesting and time consuming no doubt, props for taking the time out to contribute.

[lefty]

Groundhog Day
Wow, Lucas gets another super close decision go against him.
He doesn't give a eff, he will be back and will be champion of the world one day soon.
Great work though with your post, really interesting and time consuming no doubt, props for taking the time out to contribute.

[palooka]

Lucas didn't complain after the bout; Garcia coped very well and boxed a strong fight, he looks to the top man at light welter without a doubt; I'd watch a rematch though I do think it'd be pretty much the same - though Garcia showed he had a very good chin so did Lucas - he took some really hard punches flush.

[handsofstone]

I dont think they should order one but i do think Garcia got away with some foul play with the low blows, i do like it when a fighter isnt constantly complaining to the ref,i like them just to focus on the job in hand and hopefully the ref will sort it out but there comes a point in the fight just like Mares/Agbeko where you should complain as the refs letting the opponent away with murder so i think Matthysse should have complained but didnt

Id watch a rematch but i cant see a differant outcome

[ShadrachSimmo]

Garcia was a dirty bastard in the fight the low blows were deliberate and deserved at least a point.

But I felt he still won by a couple of rounds even though the knockdown was bullshit too. Matthysse was unfortunate with the eye injury. Can't see there being a rematch. Unless Garcia loses or Matthysse ko's a Mayweather or Marquez in his next fight.

[Tanzio]

A lot of the low blows were a result of Matthysse pulling down on Garcia's head as he went to throw the left hook, which in turn led to it straying low.

You need to view it again. That was not actually the case.

[Flump]

I had Garcia three points up, I'd like to see a rematch as it was an intriguing contest but there was no controversy on the cards, the right man won.

[punchers chance]

If you look at the fightscorecollector blog he has over 20 cards from industry writers and pundits. Of those, one has it 114-113 Matthysse another has it a draw and all the remainder have Garcia winning by a margin of 1 to 5 points.
The consensus is for a close but clear Garcia win.
I don't see any immediate justification for a rematch but as always with boxing, if it makes financial sense then it could be made again.

[lefty]

A lot of the low blows were a result of Matthysse pulling down on Garcia's head as he went to throw the left hook, which in turn led to it straying low.

You need to view it again. That was not actually the case.

I remember one in particular where Matthysse was lining up Garcia with his jab to let the right hand go and just as Garcia went to let his left hook go Matthysse pushed down on his neck and it went low. I distinctly remember the ref calling for a break in the action and Garcia saying to the ref that he pulled down on my neck and the ref said I know but be careful.

[ajwesty13]

I had woefully under estimated Garcia .... he outboxed Lucas even before the cut and tbh the result would be the same .... Garcia does not need to box Matthysse again ...theres nothing in it for him....

[Tanzio]

A lot of the low blows were a result of Matthysse pulling down on Garcia's head as he went to throw the left hook, which in turn led to it straying low.

You need to view it again. That was not actually the case.

I remember one in particular where Matthysse was lining up Garcia with his jab to let the right hand go and just as Garcia went to let his left hook go Matthysse pushed down on his neck and it went low. I distinctly remember the ref calling for a break in the action and Garcia saying to the ref that he pulled down on my neck and the ref said I know but be careful.

Ok, that's once. There were nearly 30 low blows.

I had woefully under estimated Garcia .... he outboxed Lucas even before the cut and tbh the result would be the same .... Garcia does not need to box Matthysse again ...theres nothing in it for him....

I also predicted wrong, and given the failure of the ref, I understand why the decision was in Garcia's favor. I think there should be a rematch as a result of the failed officiating, which may well have changed the outcome of this fight.

Thanks for all of your responses.