By Ben Jacobs

Lucas Matthysse returns to action on September 6 against hard-punching Mexican, Roberto Ortíz in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The Argentine last fought in April against John Molina in a thrilling bout in which he emerged victorious via stoppage in round 11.  After the bout Matthysse returned to his homeland where he was able to have a good rest with his family before resuming training for his upcoming encounter.  BoxingScene was able to talk briefly with Lucas via telephone following a training session during which he revealed that he will be sparring Luis Carlos Abregú as preparations wind down before he travels to the United States.

We’ve some seen some videos of him on the internet.  You can see that he’s a boxer who punches hard but so do I and I’m preparing well for this new fight.  Every fight is a challenge, he hasn’t fought much away from home, I have more experience than him and I’m giving 100% in training to arrive in good shape.

BoxingScene.com: Did you want a bigger fight than this?  Possibly a rematch against Danny García?

I respect all my opponents but I think I deserved to have a different rival or be on a bigger show.  I’ve just had some hard fights, I lost to Danny García but I think I deserve a big fight.  I just train and fight whoever they put in front of me, but yes, I would like a slightly bigger challenge to see where I am at.

BoxingScene.com: What are your thoughts on John Molina looking back at that fight?

He was a very tough rival, we knew we’d have a tough fight, he was strong.  I had to come back after the loss to García and I did well.  It was important to win to keep having big fights in America.  It was a good fight.

I think I was winning, he caught me and I went down but apart from the knockdowns I was doing well.  I knew I had to comeback quick because even though I was winning the rounds, the fact that I suffered two knockdowns would make things difficult on the scorecards.

BoxingScene.com: Was he the hardest puncher you have ever faced?

The boxer who hit me the hardest in my career was Humberto Soto, he was the only one whose punches I really felt.  Molina caught me and I went down but I didn’t feel his punches too much.  Soto punched very hard though.

BoxingScene.com: How do you view the current progress of Danny García?

He just fought with a fighter who is a fourth or fifth level type boxer.  He should give [Mauricio] Herrera or me a rematch but it seems like he will now fight Lamont Peterson, so I don’t know what will happen next.  He doesn’t seem to want a rematch with me.
I want an important fight, I think I deserve it, maybe a rematch with Peterson if he wins, but we’ll see.