Herrera Agrees To Terms, Waits on Contract For Lucas Matthysse

By Miguel Rivera

Argentine puncher Lucas Matthysse (37-4, 34KOs) could be on the verge of finalizing his next opponent.

The boxer is scheduled to return on May 7th, as part of the HBO Pay-Per-View undercard to the Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez vs. Amir Khan showdown at the T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas.

Matthysse wants to return in a big way after suffering the first knockout loss of his career last October at the hands of Viktor Postol in their WBC 140-pound title fight. The upcoming fight will take place at the welterweight limit of 147-pounds.

One of the leading candidates, former WBA interim-junior welterweight champion Mauricio Herrera (22-5, 7KOs) has reached an agreement with Golden Boy Promotions to face Matthysse.

Herrera is simply waiting on a contract to sign.

"We were talking last week and we reached an agreement. I just hope I get the contract to sign. I think [I'll get it] this week or maybe next. It is a very important fight on a very important platform. I would be very happy to get that," Herrera said to ESPN Deportes. "I know Matthysse will be a very tough opponent, but these kinds of opponents motivate me to give my best and that's when I show my best."

"The negotiations were not difficult for me. I've always liked to fight the best and Lucas is one of them, the fight would also be part of a great show like Canelo-Khan at a the new arena, so things are looking good. It's a tough fight. Early in my career I fought as high as 153 pounds, but then with a lot of discipline I went down. I'm confident that I'll be fine at 147 pounds. It will be a great fight."

They have two common opponents - Ruslan Provodnikov and Danny Garcia. Both have close decision wins over Provodnikov and both have decision losses to Garcia, but Herrera's defeat was very controversial.