By Rick Reeno
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer indicated to BoxingScene.com that he would love to put together a certified junior welterweight war between Argentinean fighters Lucas Matthysse (31-2, 29KOs) and Marco Maidana (31-3, 28KOs) - and stage that fight in a huge venue in Argentina. Showtime has expressed interest in a Matthysse-Maidana showdown, and staging the fight in Argentina is not a deal breaker.
However, there are numerous obstacles to making Matthysse-Maidana a reality.
First, Maidana would have to win a scheduled HBO televised co-feature with undefeated welterweight contender Keith Thurman (17-0, 16KOs), which takes place on July 21 in Cincinnati.
Secondly, Matthysse is focused on getting a title shot and his opportunity might arrive sooner than later - depending on the post-fight circumstances of Amir Khan's upcoming bout with WBC champion Danny Garcia, taking place on July 14th at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The WBC has already ordered the winner of that fight to defend the belt against mandatory challenger Ajose Olusegun. If Garcia wins, he will be obligated to fight Ajose. If Khan wins, he will likely vacate the title and move up to the welterweight division.
If the belt becomes vacant, the WBC will order the two highest ranked contenders to face each other for the title. Ajose is ranked at number one. The current boxer ranked at number two is Humberto Soto, who Matthysse knocked out in five rounds on Saturday night. Matthysse, currently ranked at four, is expected to take over Soto's number two position in the WBC's July rankings.
If the title becomes vacant, Matthysse and Ajose could very well square off for the vacant belt.
"I would like him to fight Maidana. It's going to depend on what's going to happen with Garcia and Khan, who are going to fight for the title. It depends on what's going to happen there. The title might become vacant and the WBC has ruled that Olusegun would have to fight winner of this fight and it could be Matthysse for the vacant title - if in fact the title will be vacant," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com.
"If not [and the title does not become vacant because Khan stays at 140 or Garcia wins], then Olusegun will have to fight the winner of Khan and Garcia. We'll have to see what happens there. These are like the two scenarios that we are going [to examine]."
