Here is boxing writer Keith Idec’s inside look at the sport:
FEATURED FIGHT: Danny Garcia vs. Lucas Matthysse. Their contracts took a long time to finalize, but Garcia-Matthysse officially was announced during a conference call Thursday as part of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Canelo Alvarez undercard Sept. 14 in Las Vegas. The can’t-miss brawl between Philadelphia’s Garcia (26-0, 16 KOs), the WBA/WBC 140-pound champion, and Argentina’s Matthysse (34-2, 32 KOs, 1 NC) would’ve done a great rating as a main event on Showtime. Making it the co-featured fight before Mayweather-Alvarez could help push pay-per-view sales toward the boxing record of 2.5 million buys, set by Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007. The winner also could challenge Mayweather (44-0, 26 KOs) next if he defeats Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KOs).
LOCAL LOOK: Mike Mitchell (1-1-1), a super middleweight from Paterson, will encounter Vincenzo D’Angelo (pro debut) in a four-round fight Saturday night at The Paramount in Huntington, N.Y. Mitchell, 35, won for the first time as a professional in his last fight. The Kennedy High School graduate defeated Saul Almeida (0-2), of Framingham, Mass., by unanimous decision in a four-rounder May 24 in Uncasville, Conn.
ANOTHER LOCAL LOOK: Elvin Sanchez, a cruiserweight from Paterson, is frustrated and seriously contemplating retiring from boxing now that another of his fights has been canceled. Sanchez (6-2-1, 5 KOs), a Manchester High School graduate, was supposed to face Ahmed Samir (11-1, 4 KOs) in a six-round bout July 27 at Schuetzen Park in North Bergen. Samir withdrew from the fight with a hand injury and Sanchez was removed from the card. That marked the second cancellation for Sanchez since he scored an upset by stopping Venroy July (13-1-2, 6 KOs) in the third round Feb. 22 in Washington, D.C., July’s hometown.
THE FINAL BELL: Mike Tyson was engaging and entertaining during a question-and-answer session Wednesday night in New York with New York Post sports columnist George Willis, whose recently released book, “The Bite Fight,” meticulously details the buildup and aftermath of that infamous night 16 years ago, when Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear. The fascinating book ($24.95) can be purchased at facebook.com/theBiteFight or amazon.com
