Matthysse vs Provodnikov

[Stuarty]

I'm sure everyone is looking forward to this clash. I can't see it being anything other than a brutal war however long it lasts! I think Matthysse will come out on top in the later rounds. Thoughts?

[Flump]

I think Matthyse stops him late, possibly on facial damage. Great, great fight though, I wish there was more matchmaking like this going on.

[rossco3343]

Should be a cracker (and if I'm being honest) I've been looking forward to this more than MayPac. For some reason I fancy Provodnikov for this one, don't know why, just do.

[Boxerbeetle]

I think Matthysse will take this fairly comfortably actually, I don't really rate Provodnikov. Just think Matthysse is quite a bit more skilled & a much sharper puncher, Provodnikov is very 2-dimensional & will get consistently tagged coming in. Should be good while it lasts though!

[jw9170]

Really looking forward to this one. Initially fancied Matthyse as Provodnikov is pretty one dimensional and Matthyse has beaten the better fighters over the years. I could see Provodniklov just walking through Matthyse' shots and then being able to land his own and hurt Matthyse. The Russian seems to just brush off shots landed on him. No doubt Matthyse is the biggest puncher he's been in with though.

[ShadrachSimmo]

Really looking forward to this one. Initially fancied Matthyse as Provodnikov is pretty one dimensional and Matthyse has beaten the better fighters over the years. I could see Provodniklov just walking through Matthyse' shots and then being able to land his own and hurt Matthyse. The Russian seems to just brush off shots landed on him. No doubt Matthyse is the biggest puncher he's been in with though.

I was thinking the same. You could argue Alvarado is the biggest puncher Provodnikov has been in with and his punches had little effect on him. But he does take a lot of shots and his eyes seem to swell up badly throughout a fight.

Matthysse has been dropped a few times but he's never seemed badly hurt and finished his fights strongly.

It makes for a great spectacle. It can't fail to dissapoint be surprised if it ended early.

[brian13]

I think Matthysse wins on points or late stoppage. Its such a fun fight

[handsofstone]

This has all the hallmarks of a modern classic, 2 warriors with serious power and plenty of flaws,I'm siding with Matthysse on points,probably very,very close but I tipped Lucas at the beginning so I'll keep the faith

I agree that Matthysse is the better all round boxer and harder hitter but Provodnikov is the tougher guy when it comes to taking s shot although he's never been in with someone who hits near as hard Matthysse so they eyes could end up near shut by the halfway mark

I Cannae wait

[Counter-puncher]

Good post mate, i agree i like matthyse's tighter more technical boxing. However looking at the success Molina had with wide sweeping overhand and hooked right hands- basically provo's money punch- and it does make me wonder if provo can hurt matthyse. I think he will at some point, its just how matthyse recovers/ how provo capitalised.

[handsofstone]

Good post mate, i agree i like matthyse's tighter more technical boxing. However looking at the success Molina had with wide sweeping overhand and hooked right hands- basically provo's money punch- and it does make me wonder if provo can hurt matthyse. I think he will at some point, its just how matthyse recovers/ how provo capitalised.

Cheers CP I was kind of starting to sway towards Provodnikov when I was thinking about Matthysse and Molina's fight and John had him in trouble for sure but I'm gonna stick with Lucas being a bit more savvy than Ruslan

Could be the best fight in a long time,I wonder if Matthysse will try and box smart or try and hurt Provodnikov?

[Counter-puncher]

Bit of both mate, if he boxes too smart he lets Provo onto the front foot building up a head of steam. Try to take ring centre, if provo throws madly which he will, do a watson-Benn and cover up smart, then come on very strong and push Provo back when his workrate drops, which is does and will.

[handsofstone]

Bit of both mate, if he boxes too smart he lets Provo onto the front foot building up a head of steam. Try to take ring centre, if provo throws madly which he will, do a watson-Benn and cover up smart, then come on very strong and push Provo back when his workrate drops, which is does and will.

Yeah I think with Matthysse being the better all round boxer he wants to control centre but not get wreckless and he needs to tie up or move when Provodnikov gets busy but as you say don't let Provo get in easily and gain momentum, he doesn't want him pounding away away at him because he will hurt Lucas

But all it takes for someone to get buzzed and then the aggressor will go for the finish there and then

[Counter-puncher]

I am pretty damn sure matthyse is a lot better at fighting or covering up on the back foot than Provo is. Id pick him as being more clinical as a finisher too. No doubt at all that we will see

[jw9170]

Yeh i agree that Matthysse is the better all round boxer and he needs to use these better skills to win this fight. As i wrote above Matthysse is the biggest puncher Provodnikov has faced but is Provodnikov also the biggest puncher that Matthyse has faced?

[JC]

It's the sort of fight where cuts will probably play a part.

[crusader]

For all the talk of Lucas's greater skill he didn't seem to use much of it against Molina, and instead powered through him in a battle of attrition. The biggest question for me is whether Lucas will be drawn into a slugfest in which his advantages in skill are largely offset and durability and grit become bigger factors. While he can still win that type of fight I think it will be significantly more difficult and I wouldn't be surprised if Provo outlasts him.

[Boxerbeetle]

I don't think Matthyse will fight Provodnikov anything like he did against Molina, he'll respect Prov's power too much; he knew he could pretty much walk through whatever Molina was throwing.

[Counter-puncher]

@ crusader, He showed better technique throughout the Molina fight mate, better guard, more compact punching, better variety of punches and combination punching. Not that he was being a technical boxer, still, he just isn't one, but his technique is light years better than Molinas and it showed in the win.

[crusader]

I don't think Matthyse will fight Provodnikov anything like he did against Molina, he'll respect Prov's power too much; he knew he could pretty much walk through whatever Molina was throwing.

He was dropped multiple times and rocked on other occasions, so he didn't take them that well. While he is more skillful than Provo he's limited himself and I think the 'he's got underrated skills' line is a bit overdone; even his victim Humberto Soto showed me more skill against Molina than he did and he looked very limited against Garcia, who while a top fighter doesn't have what I'd consider top back-foot boxing ability.

@ crusader, He showed better technique throughout the Molina fight mate, better guard, more compact punching, better variety of punches and combination punching. Not that he was being a technical boxer, still, he just isn't one, but his technique is light years better than Molinas and it showed in the win.

I agree that he showed more skill than Molina, who is one of the few notable fighters who I'd consider less skilled than Provo, but he's also showed numerous limitations (such as being easy to hit and throwing wide, often telegraphed punches) and I question whether skill will be a decider if he gets drawn into that type of fight with Provo.

[Counter-puncher]

Aye true, i don't think Provo is THAT much more skilled than Molina fwiw so that's why i think they make for a decent comparison. For example neither of them throw many jabs, both throw big wideish shots, neither of them are Willie pep with the feet, etc. Certainly Matthyse needs to be more circumspect against Provo. Needs to make sure his left is high and to retract his jab quickly because Provo will be trying to bomb the right over it.

[ScottDetonator]

Matthysse wins for me in a battle of two warriors. I can see both of the fighters going down though.

Just hope it's not a two round blow out!

[ste1983]

the HBO broadcast starts at 9.45 Eastern Time for the two main fights? Thats the 2.45am our time yeah?

[Boxerbeetle]

I think Matthysse will take this fairly comfortably actually, I don't really rate Provodnikov. Just think Matthysse is quite a bit more skilled & a much sharper puncher, Provodnikov is very 2-dimensional & will get consistently tagged coming in. Should be good while it lasts though!

^ This guy really knows his stuff

[smiling assassin]

i know Provodnikov is one dimensional and can get outboxed quite easily at times but i cant help but love watching him fight. he doesnt know how to take a backward step, top punchers cant seem to shake him up and his work rate doesnt seem to slow for the full 12 rounds. Matthyse boxed brilliantly for the first half of the fight and for most part later on but the heart and will of Provodnikov will always bring him into a fight with anyone in the division as he just seems so game.

[palooka]

I think Matthysse will take this fairly comfortably actually, I don't really rate Provodnikov. Just think Matthysse is quite a bit more skilled & a much sharper puncher, Provodnikov is very 2-dimensional & will get consistently tagged coming in. Should be good while it lasts though!

^ This guy really knows his stuff

A stopped clock is right twice a day