Team Postol: Matthysse Won't Catch Us Off-Guard Again

By Jake Donovan

Aside from the actual ring result, the team behind Viktor Postol couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to scout Lucas Matthysse in his last fight. Postol is trained and managed by the same all-star squad – manager Vadim Kornilov, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and hands-on coach Marvin Somodio – that handles the career of Ruslan Provodnikov, who dropped a 12-round decision to Matthysse in their HBO-televised slugfest in April.

This time, it’s Postol’s shot at the Argentine slugger, as the two collide for a vacant super lightweight title this weekend at StubHub Center in Carson, California. The unbeaten Ukrainian – who trains at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif. – is generally regarded as a solid bet to defeat just about anyone in and around his loaded weight class, but comes into his HBO-televised headliner believing his side carries an added edge prior to Saturday night.

“This is the second time we are facing Lucas,” points out Somodio, who was jokingly introduced as ‘The Filipino Freddie Roach’ in the Hall of Famer’s absence at the dais. “Last time was with Ruslan and we came up short. We will not come up short this time.”

Postol (27-0, 11KOs) has fought just once before on HBO, looking impressive in an 11th round knockout of Selcuk Aydin last May. The 31-year old has since bided his time waiting on his long-overdue title shot. He agreed to let then-champion Danny Garcia engage in back-to-back non-title fights, including fighting on the undercard of Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson this past April in his lone ring appearance of 2015.

Garcia finally dumped the belts over the summer, giving Postol his first chance – perhaps his best chance – at a world title.

“We were in this same position in April, as we were in the corner of Ruslan Provodnikov,” points out Kornilov. “Lucas caught us off-guard, we expected the fight to be a war, but he wound up outboxing Ruslan to win the fight (Matthysse took a well-earned majority decision).

“Now that we can know we can come in with different styles, we will be ready for anything Lucas can bring. Even though Lucas can brawl and isn’t afraid to do it, he was afraid to brawl in the Provodinikov and was able to box and win.”

Postol has no intention of letting that happen on Saturday.

“I’ve trained for this fight like no other,” Postol insists, heading into his third straight fight in the United States. “I had a great camp. In my career, training in Wild Card for the past two years, I’ve trained with Manny Pacquiao; I’ve trained with the very best and am ready for October 3.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox