BoxRec

What do you think?

best match up in a long while.

provod by destruction!!!

Matthysse rips Ruslans face apart.

Matthysse late stoppage.

I always go for puncher when against brawler. Matthysse by decision.

wow are people thinking this fight will even get to the cards... I would be shocked if this fight goes past 8 rounds ....... tbh there arent really known for the technical ability, but are more about power and strength.

Can't wait for this fight, most looked forward fight for me since Froch v Groves 2.

Matthysse for me, K.O., but can't wait either way.

Mathysse by tko in around 8.

I really hope this fight lives up to its expectations.

ajwesty13 wrote:wow are people thinking this fight will even get to the cards... I would be shocked if this fight goes past 8 rounds ....... tbh there arent really known for the technical ability, but are more about power and strength.

Thats all true but they are also hard to knock out. And once Provod feels Lucases power he might become reluctant to engage.

Ruslan by KO. I think Ruslan's chin or Lucas' more questionable chin is going to be the deciding factor here.

This is a real pick 'em fight.

My gut says Provo though.

If Molina can scramble Lucas, Provo can turn his lights completely out.

I agree with the previous two posters. It is a tossup though. Wouldn't bet on any of the two.

It will be a boring draw, similar to Johnny Nelson v Carlos De Leon.

I've never been high on Matthysse. A very good puncher but overhyped. Struggled too much last time out with one-dimensional Molina.

Provo should grind him down. The Argentine's chin is becoming more questionable by the fight.

I like the Russian to come on down the stretch and take a decision.
Only question is, will Provo's very delicate skin hold up for 12 against a big banger?
Even a slapper like Algieri damaged Provo's features, so he's always at risk of becoming a TKO victim.

The current betting line has Matthysse a slim -150 favorite, with a +120 return on the underdog Provodnikov.

SenorPipino wrote:I've never been high on Matthysse. A very good puncher but overhyped. Struggled too much last time out with one-dimensional Molina.

Provo should grind him down. The Argentine's chin is becoming more questionable by the fight.

I like the Russian to come on down the stretch and take a decision.
Only question is, will Provo's very delicate skin hold up for 12 against a big banger?
Even a slapper like Algieri damaged Provo's features, so he's always at risk of becoming a TKO victim.

The current betting line has Matthysse a slim -150 favorite, with a +120 return on the underdog Provodnikov.

It takes skill to neutralize Provo, skill Matthysse just may not have.

Also, Lucas has never been hard to hit- with Provo, you must avoid punches well.

Lucas by late round bust up stoppage, I don't think he'll KO Provodnikov but he won't have to search for him and I don't think Prov hits hard enough to keep Lucas wary.

I'm not fussed who wins this one but hope they're getting plenty of yankee dollars because I can imagine it's going to be brutal.

this matchup has FOTY written all over it!

don't care who wins. just give us a JLC-Corrales 1 kinda fight!

Rick is melting my head!!!

SenorPipino wrote:I've never been high on Matthysse. A very good puncher but overhyped. Struggled too much last time out with one-dimensional Molina.

Provo should grind him down. The Argentine's chin is becoming more questionable by the fight.

I like the Russian to come on down the stretch and take a decision.
Only question is, will Provo's very delicate skin hold up for 12 against a big banger?
Even a slapper like Algieri damaged Provo's features, so he's always at risk of becoming a TKO victim.

The current betting line has Matthysse a slim -150 favorite, with a +120 return on the underdog Provodnikov.

Interesting odds books in the UK have it as a 50/50 fight.

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.

crusader wrote: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.

I think that if he tries the same kind of fight with Provo that he tried with JonJon, Lucas may need an orthodontist afterwards...whenever it is he wakes up.

SenorPipino wrote:I've never been high on Matthysse. A very good puncher but overhyped. Struggled too much last time out with one-dimensional Molina.

Provo should grind him down. The Argentine's chin is becoming more questionable by the fight.

I like the Russian to come on down the stretch and take a decision.
Only question is, will Provo's very delicate skin hold up for 12 against a big banger?
Even a slapper like Algieri damaged Provo's features, so he's always at risk of becoming a TKO victim.

The current betting line has Matthysse a slim -150 favorite, with a +120 return on the underdog Provodnikov.

I think that this is the perfect answer. I couldn't agree more. The only way Provodnikov loses is by decision, cuts or corner throws in the towel. You are so right about his skin. He's a mess no matter who he fights.

I also completely agree at the overhype statement for Matthysee. Before the Garcia fight, I believed that hype but he's hit the canvas 3 times in the last 3 fights on some punches that quite honestly, didn't seem like strong blows. Provodnikov is like a piston that just doesn't stop pumping and I really think that Matthysee has not been the same in the chin area since the Garcia fight.

Great post SenorPipino, any way it turns out though, i can't wait for this fight!

I favor Mathysse; Garcia low blowed him to death and won by treachery. Provo is more of a headhunter, and Mathysse will beat him to the punch all night.

More versatility, better defense and foot speed.

What worries me being a matthysse fan is that he just doesnt seem pumped for the fight.

I know lucas has a poker face stone cold look at all time but he just seems too passive for such a big fight.

Ruslan on the other hand is pumped as fuuck and you can just see hes willing to do whatever it takes to win.

Hope im wrong but im giving ruslan the mental edge already.

Tho who knows Lucas was also stone cold in the garcia fight and that one was on a bigger stage.

shocking that Lucas is favorite to win here, this particular poll..
I can see Provodnikov stopping him..