By Miguel Rivera

Two years and three months after having for a world championship for the last time, Lucas Mathysse believes that the time has come to raise the flag of Argentine in boxing again.

The vacant World Boxing Association's "regular" title will be at stake for the combatants. The full WBA champion at the weight is Keith Thurman, who has been in shelf since last March after suffering an elbow injury.

Lucas, 35 years old, had a stint of inactivity after suffering a knockout loss to Viktor Postol for the super lightweight title of the World Boxing Council title in the fall of 2016.

And then returned in 2017 to blast out Emmanuel Taylor in what was Matthysse's welterweight debut last May as part of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. card in Las Vegas.

However, this fight will be his third in three years - but Matthysse does not believe that this will hurt him in the fight.

"It's vital for me to win this fight, I have not thought beyond getting a good result this January 27," said Matthysse to ESPN Deportes.

"In the last year, boxing declined a bit in Argentina but we are working, there are important commitments for (Brian) Castaño, for (Omar) Narváez and I'm sure we're going to raise the flag of Argentina.

"I haven't fought as much but I've kept training, I was sitting at 147 pounds and we made good decisions, I had a choice to fight in November but we said 'no' because this fight came to us and it is so much more important. There are fights out there that are more important, but I have to be focused on this fight and win it."

With a record of 38-4 and 35 knockouts, Lucas expects a good fight with Kiram, who will come in with an undefeated record of 38-0 and 28 knockouts.

"Kiram, we know he is a tall guy and he is a good fighter, we have already seen some things, but our work has gone well with Joel and Toño Díaz, with Mario (Arano), with the physical trainer, we have been doing a great preparation," Matthysse said.