Lucas Matthysse Pulls Out a Close Decision Over Ruslan Provodnikov in an All Out War – REMATCH NEEDED

By Travis Fleming

Last night predictions proved true when Ruslan “The Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov, 23-2-0 16 KO’s, took on Argentinian Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse, 36-3-0 32 KO’s. They headlined the HBO card from the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.

Most fans and experts predicted a fight of the year type of battle and that’s exactly what we got. Both are limited fighters that would lose to the division’s best, but when their never say die, all out action styles were put together it created fireworks.

From the opening bell, they traded vicious punches with Provodnikov stalking and Matthysse doing a decent job of boxing and using his jab. Throughout the fight, both landed bombs, and although he got sucked in to brawling a few times, Matthysse was the more disciplined boxer and used his better skill set, and defense, to keep Provodnikov at bay.

At the end of the night, Matthysse was awarded a majority decision in a fight that could have gone either way. The fight was definitely the most action packed of the year so far, and because of how close it was, it would be great to see it a second, or even a third, time. These two could become the Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward of our generation with an explosive trilogy. Sometimes, fighters with a ton of heart and limited skill sets make for the most entertaining battles, unfortunately if I were either one of these guys, I’d stay the hell away from a boxing lesson or a beat down from the division’s elite. Let’s hope these two get it on in a rematch later this year instead of chasing fighters they will not beat.