Improved his record to 34-2ATLANTIC CITY ? Richard Schaefer arrived at press row Saturday night full of over-the-top promotional hyperbole. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
LUCAS MATTHYSSE
“We have the new Manny Pacquiao,” Schaefer said emphatically. “He?s from Argentina and his name is Lucas Matthysse.”
The hard-hitting Matthysse had just earned a career-high $700,000 for tearing through Lamont Peterson in a non-pay-per-view fight that drew a crowd barely over 4,000 to Boardwalk Hall. And as far as anyone knows, Matthysse isn?t a potential president of Argentina.
Yes, Matthysse has a long way to go before mentioning him as the next Pacquiao doesn?t amount to wishful thinking, at least in terms of the Filipino superstar?s popularity and earning power.
Nevertheless, such excitement from Schaefer, the man who runs Oscar De La Hoya?s promotional company, was believable after Matthysse exposed Peterson so easily. Knockout-loving fight fans simply shouldn?t miss Matthysse?s fights, 89 percent of which have ended by knockout or technical knockout.
Matthysse (34-2, 32 KOs, one NC) entered the Peterson fight as a slight favorite, yet it wouldn?t have been much of an upset if Peterson won.
But Matthysse manhandled him, stalking Peterson from the opening bell until he landed a left hook to the top of Peterson?s head that sent Peterson to the canvas in the second round. Peterson, whose IBF junior welterweight championship wasn?t at stake in their non-title fight, survived that trouble, only to be floored twice more by Matthysse left hooks in the third round, when it ended.
“That was one of the most spectacular performances I have seen in quite a while,” Schaefer said. “Just amazing, and this is at the highest, highest level of the sport, against somebody with tremendous heart and will. What Lucas Matthysse did to Lamont Peterson, no one has ever done before.”
Peterson (31-2-1, 16 KOs), of Washington, D.C., had not been knocked out in his eight-year pro career before Matthysse mauled him. He?ll still be able to defend his IBF 140-pound title, but Matthysse has moved on to a more meaningful fight ? a showdown with undefeated Danny Garcia.
Matthysse, who has a granite chin and better boxing skills than your typical knockout artist, and Philadelphia?s Garcia (26-0, 16 KOs) are tentatively set to fight Sept. 7 at Verizon Center in Washington. Garcia watched from ringside as Matthysse demolished Peterson.
