Matthysse: I Fought Everyone at 140, I Want The Same at 147

On January 27th at the "Fabulous" Forum in Inglewood, California, Argentinean puncher Lucas Matthysse (38-4, 35 KOs), who holds the WBA Inter-Continental and WBO International welterweight titles, will go against undefeated Thai superstar Tewa Kiram (38-0, 28 KOs).

The HBO televised fight is scheduled for twelve rounds, and the World Boxing Association has sanctioned the bout for the vacant WBA "regular" welterweight title.

The WBA went in that direction, because current world champion Keith Thurman has been sidelined due to an injury since his March decision win over Danny Garcia.

At the junior welterweight limit, Matthysse fought the likes of John Molina, former two-division champion Lamont Peterson, former WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov former three-division titlist Humberto Soto, and two-division champion Danny Garcia.

After suffering an eye injury in his knockout loss to Postol in October of 2015, Matthysse did not return to the ring until May of 2017, in his welterweight, and picked up a knockout win over the very durable Emmanuel Taylor in five rounds.

Matthysse has changed over his new team, he trains in the United States, and has veteran coach Joel Diaz at his side.

"I'm happy to be back in the United States. We're preparing well. I've had a great camp. I started camp early in Argentina, and now I'm looking forward to closing camp with Joel Diaz in Indio, California. I don't train for the knockout, but if the knockout comes, I'll welcome it. I fought everyone at 140. I want to do the same as I did at 140; I want to fight the best," Matthysse said.

Diaz is very pleased with the work thus far with Matthysse. He was happy with his performance in May and predicts that we'll see an even sharper fighter in January.

"I'm really happy to be part of Lucas Matthysse's team. He's a great fighter. Coming in he's very motivated. In my first fight him with him, he did really well with Emmanuel Taylor. Coming in to his second fight, he was motivated and happy. I always say that a happy fighter is a successful fighter. You're going to see a great Matthysse, one who is ready to become world champion," Diaz said.