Q&A: Matthysse will pursue the KO versus Soto

RingTV.com caught up to hard-hitting junior welterweight contender Lucas Matthysse, of Argentina, who will face former WBC 130-pound and lightwieght titleholder Humberto Soto, of Mexico, on the undercard of Saturday night's Showtime-televised clash between fromer welterweight titleholder Victor Ortiz and Josesito Lopez at The Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Matthysse (30-2, 28 knockouts) will be after his third straight stoppage win in this WBC 140-pound title eliminator bout against Soto (58-7-2, 34 KOs), who is riding a 15-bout winning streak that includes six knockouts.

Prior to his last victory, a sixth-round knockout of Angel Martinez in February, Matthysse fought three southpaws in a row, sandwhiching split-decision losses to ex-titleholders Zab Judah and Devon Alexander in around an eighth-round knockout of DeMarcus Corley.

Matthysse had been encouraged following the loss to Alexander, however, after being named to challenge the legendary Erik Morales of Mexico for a September bout that would be for the WBC's vacant junior welterweight belt.

But a subsequent illness forced Matthysse to pull out of the fight with Morales, who went on to become the first Mexican-born fighter to earn a fourth title in as many different divisions with a 10th-round knockout over previously-unbeaten Pablo Cesar Cano.

With his last three victories having been in Argintina, and his past two losses to Judah and Alexander having been in Newark, N.J., and, St. Louis, Mo., respectively, Matthysse appears to be determined not to leave Saturday night's decision up to the judges on American soil.

RingTV.com: What exactly was the illness that kept him from fighting Morales, and how disappointing was that?

Lucas Matthysse: It was a bronchospasm. I had been really sick in my lungs, so that was really was disappointing. I had been training very well and very hard.

That fight was for the WBC world title and against a legend like Erik. Now I'm OK mentally and physically. I fought and won twice by KO. Now I'm focused on Soto.

RingTV.com: Have you faced a boxer whose skills are comparable to those of Soto?

LM: I really don't know. I haven't yet seen videos of his fights. But I know he's very good fighter who has been world champion.

RingTV.com: Do you believe that you have more power than Soto has faced?

LM: Yes, because he is rising more from the lighter divisions, and I've always been a 140-pounder.

RingTV.com: In what fashion do you see yourself breaking down Soto and winning the fight?

LM: I don't know, but I'm ready for war. I've been robbed twice with decisions in the United States against Judah and Alexander, and so now I look for the KO.

Zab and Devon were very difficult fighters, and obviously, having to adjust to them was difficult. But with Humberto, we know that he is going to come to fight.

He's going to come to go to war. That makes me very happy, because I'm ready to give him a war. He's a Mexican warrior so we're going to kill in the ring. 

RingTV.com: Do you believe that you will win by knockout?

LM: Absolutely. Yes.

RingTV.com: How big would a victory be over Soto for your career?

LM: I'm looking at the biggest victory of my life. It will be very good for me to beat a two-times world champion in Las Vegas in the WBC eliminator.

But after I beat him, I have no preferences as to who I fight. I want to face any world champion who brings me the title shot.

Photos by Tom Hogan, Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com