By: Matthew N. Becher
In another chapter between Golden Boy and Top Rank Promotions, live from the StubHub Center in Carson, California, both Promotional companies have come together to put on a Jr. Welterweight title fight against each camps top guys. Lucas Matthysse has been in fights of the year and is one of the hardest punchers in the sport. Viktor Postol is unknown to the common fan, but is well known by the hard core.
The underdog Postol came with a game plan that shutdown the aggressive Argentine Matthysse. Postol not only was able to use his length to control the pace of the fight, but was able to showcase that he was powerful enough to Knockout Matthysse for the first time in his career.
In the under card, undefeated Golden Boy prospect Antonio Orozco was able to get through a former champ and ranked Jr. Welterweight Humberto Soto. Orozco was able to showcase his talent on a big stage and get passed his latest, and most difficult challenge of his career.
Antonio Orozco (22-0 15KO) vs. Humberto Soto (65-8-2- 35KO): Jr. Welterweight
Humberto Soto had trained for 3 fights this year prior to tonight’s fight. All of the previous fights fell through in one way or another, and tonight would be his first fight of 2015. The “Gate Keeper” of the Jr. Welterweight division, Soto, a former 3 division world champion brought everything into the ring against the quick rising prospect Antonio Orozco.
Soto came out setting up a jab, and found a great opening for his left hand. The second round had both men trading leather, landing barrages of punches to the others opponent. The tempo picked up quickly. Orozco began to pick up the pace and tried to tire out the older Soto. Soto did not back down easily. Orozco was able to mix his punches up very well, consistently working the body of the older Soto. Soto was able to counter consistently, making Orozco pay for every time he attempted to take the fight inside.
By the midway point of the fight, Orozco changed his technique, assuming he was up on the scorecards, and began to box and not brawl. Soto may have been starting to tire, but continued to fight hard. Orozco was comfortable to use his younger legs to stick and move and make Soto chase him around the ring. In the ninth round, after being warned 2 times for low blows, Orozco landed another low blow on Soto. The referee stopped time and took a point from Orozco, which ended up not mattering in the final scores. Orozco passed the test and will most likely get his ranking in the Jr. Welterweight division. Soto proved that he still has a lot of fight left in him and why he is the man to prove yourself against in the 140lb division.
98-91, 97-92, 97-92 UD10 Orozco
Lucas Matthysse (37-3 34KO) vs. Viktor Postol (27-0 11KO): WBC Jr. Welterweight Championship
Postol came in with an extreme length advantage which he was able to use beautifully throughout the fight. Matthysse stalked Postol, with Postol using he length to move away and his long jab to keep Matthysse at bay.
Postol threw a lot of jabs and clinched. He frustrated Matthysse early, by tying him up constantly after landing his punches. Postol would eventually be warned twice by referee Jack Reiss in the seventh round for holding too much. This did not end up working to Matthysse advantage.
The fight changed in the 8th round, as Postol was no longer allowed to hold, but used his boxing skills to continue to win rounds. Postol was able to put together lots of combinations and smother attacks by the power punching Matthysse.
Matthysse did land a few very hard shots. But Postol proved that he has a very tough chin. And never strayed from his game plan of boxing.
Matthysse seemed to waiver after the 7th round. His frustration of not being able to get his usually big shots off and started to get tired as the fight went on. Matthysse appeared to no longer want to fight as the 10th round began. He was not attacking and just took his foot of the pedal completely. As Matthysse did so, Postol landed a straight right hand, knocking Lucas down to the canvas and not getting up as the ref reached ten.
KO 10 2:58 Postol