Boxing
Brian Campbell, ESPN.com 9y

Lucas Matthysse Q&A: 'I'm excited to fight for the world title'

Boxing

Former interim junior welterweight titlist Lucas Matthysse has two goals in mind when he returns to the ring Saturday: make another exciting fight and win another world title.

Matthysse (37-3, 34 KOs) will meet Ukraine's Viktor Postol (27-0, 11 KOs) for a vacant 140-pound title at the StubHub Center in Carson, California (HBO, 10:15 p.m. ET/PT).

A native of Argentina, Matthysse is one fight removed from winning a rousing brawl in April against Ruslan Provodnikov in a fight-of-the-year candidate. Matthysse recently caught up with ESPN.com to talk about leaving adviser Al Haymon, fighting for the fans and more.

You've become a cult hero of sorts to American boxing fans who love your action style and demeanor. What does that mean to you?

I'm just very grateful and appreciate all the people and fans who like me as a boxer and like my style. I love fighting in the U.S. I love entertaining the fans here and giving them great fights.

You and Provodnikov combined to give the fans a real gift in your last fight. How close were you to being pushed to your limit in that fight?

I just consider it an honor that the public loves and accepts me. I'm going to continue to push myself in the ring, and that has always been my style. That's what I'm going to continue to do.

Where does Provodnikov rank in terms of your toughest opponents?

Yes, definitely that fight has been the hardest of my career so far. Basically, I had to adapt to Ruslan's style and show people that I can box. Ruslan took a lot of damage from me and a lot of beating, but he was very resilient. I'm just happy I had such a great fight against someone that I respect.

What are you most excited about entering Saturday's fight?

I'm excited to fight for the world title and very happy to be fighting against the No. 1 contender for the title. I want to fight the best fighters. That's what is happening on [Saturday] and I'm just happy to be fighting for another world title.

Will it be more important for you to box or brawl against Postol, considering his style?

I'm prepared to be the kind of fighter that I need to be. I won't know what that is until I face Postol in the ring and see if he's a brawler or if he's a boxer. But I'm prepared to be both.

What went into your decision to leave adviser Al Haymon and remain with Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions?

I have always felt a great support with Golden Boy and I consider them as family. I have always had great fights here, and with everyone feeling like family to me, that's why I wanted to say.

What does your nickname "The Machine" mean to you?

"The Machine" just basically describes my style. I'm that kind of fighter, and I'm just going to continue being "The Machine" to deliver those kinds of fights to the fans.

Outside of continuing to make exciting fights, what kind of goals are you still chasing in your career?

My first goal is to win the world title. The second goal would be to move up to 147 pounds and fight the best fighters there.

How often do you think about your 2013 loss to former junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia, in terms of what you could have done differently?

I think about this fight all the time. I consider Danny a great fighter and one of the best. I would definitely like to fight him again. But what happened that night was I couldn't see out of one eye, and that was the problem. One of my eyes was closed and that was what really gave Danny the advantage. I was fighting with just one eye.

If you never became a boxer, where would you be right now in your life?

My whole family are fighters. Everyone -- my dad, my mom and my sister. My sister is a current world champion. We come from a long line of fighters, and I don't think it would have been an option to not be a boxer.

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