HBO Boxing Preview: Matthysse vs. Postol & Orozco vs. Soto

By: Matthew N. Becher

This Saturday night, from the StubHub Center in Carson, California, Golden Boy Promotions will be showcasing a boxing card live on HBO and crowning one of their star Jr. Welterweights as a world Champion. The always entertaining Lucas Matthysse (37-3 34KO)will get another chance to become the WBC 140lb champion as he takes on undefeated Ukrainian Viktor Postol (27-0 11KO) in the nights main event. The co-main event will showcase one of Golden Boys young upcoming talents, as Antonio Orozco (22-0 15KO) will take another step up in competition, this time, against the former 3 division world champ and always tough Humberto Soto (65-8-5 35KO), in a clash that will be a major factor in both men’s future careers.

Antonio Orozco is a 27 year old Jr. Welterweight looking to make a name for himself in a weight class that has seen many of its stars jump up to the 147lb division. His last two fights were against former champ Steve Forbes and fringe contender Emmanuel Taylor. Both fights Orozco handled easily and is now looking to get his name stamped in the top ten rankings of all the sanctioning bodies by beating the “gatekeeper” of the division. Soto, once the head of the class is now a 35 year old journeyman. Still ranked and a tough out, he has won his last 7 fights, with his last loss coming at the hands of Matthysse in 2012 by 5th round stoppage. Soto is still a live fighter and will look to pull off the upset against the younger Orozco, and supplant his name back at the top of the division. Either way, both of these guys will have something to prove on Saturday night, with a title shot possibly just one more fight away.

The main event is against two warriors. Viktor Postol is an undefeated fighter that few know much about. He trains out of the Wild Card Gym, with head trainer Freddy Roach. Postol has wins over Demarcus Corley, Hank Lundy and Selcuk Aydin. He has been much like his opponent, an avoided fighter. The majority of Postol’s career has been fought oversees in Ukraine, but he looks to capture the world’s attention with a win over the favored Argentinian. Lucas Matthysse is an exciting fighter, who earlier this year won a Majority Decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in what many have as the front runner for 2015 fight of the year. Matthysse has one punch knockout power and has fought an array of world champions in his career, beating some and losing his only 3 in either close fights or controversial decisions. Matthysse is one of the best fighters in the world yet to hold a championship belt. This Saturday night, we expect him to put on a great show for the fans, and finally walk out the ring with the WBC green title strapped across his waist.