The 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division has long been one of
Boxing’s most competitive weight classes. The division currently features such
names as undefeated unified WBC/WBA world champion Danny Garcia, IBF world champion
Lamont Peterson, undefeated WBO champion Chris Algieri, Mauricio Herrera, Lucas
Matthysse, and former three-division world champion Adrien Broner just to name
a few. As has been the case over the years, there is certainly plenty of
fighters in both the Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight divisions that can raise
discussion among both fans and experts alike as to potential fights that could
be made.
With undefeated WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Chris Algieri
moving up to Welterweight to challenge WBO champion Manny Pacquiao in November
for Pacquiao’s world title, some might be wondering what may be in store in the
near future in the Jr. Welterweight division. On September 6th both Adrien
Broner and Lucas Matthysse competed on the same card at the U. S. Bank Arena in
Cincinnati, Ohio in separate bouts. Matthysse, who was fighting for the second
time after losing a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision to Danny Garcia
last September faced undefeated contender Roberto Ortiz.
There is simply not much to say about this fight as
Matthysse brought an end to the contest by dropping Ortiz with a left hook to
the body late in the second round. In a scenario that has been seen in the
sport before, Ortiz seemed to misjudge the count administered to him by Referee
Benjy Esteves and got up from the knockdown as Esteves reached the count of
ten. It is certainly not the first time that a fighter has suffered a knockout
loss by misinterpreting the count of a referee. This however, was not a
controversial stoppage, in my opinion.
Esteves was in position in front of Ortiz and did both
verbally as well as visually indicate his count. Although Ortiz did appear to
get up right at the count of ten, it appeared as though he may have simply
misinterpreted the count and that ultimately cost him the fight. The mild
controversy notwithstanding, Lucas Matthysse certainly maintained his position
as a top contender in the division with this victory.
The main event on this card featured Adrien Broner in his
second fight since moving down in weight to the Jr. Welterweight division as he
faced Emmanuel Taylor. Broner, who scored a ten round unanimous decision over
Carlos Molina earlier this year in his first fight at 140lbs. was looking to get back into the world title
picture after losing his WBA world Welterweight championship in December of
last year to Marcos Maidana. Broner would get a tougher test than most expected
against Emmanuel Taylor.
Taylor, who scored a ten round unanimous decision over Karim
Mayfield in July entered the fight with an impressive record of 18-2, with 12
Knockouts in twenty professional fights. Broner however, a former world
champion in three weight divisions did have more experience at the elite level
of the sport.
The first six rounds of this fight can easily be described
as “Swing Rounds” where both fighters were able to have their moments and there
can be a healthy difference of opinion as to who won those rounds. This was due
to Taylor’s aggression in being able to force Broner back to the ropes and
maintaining a consistent work rate in punches thrown. Broner however, did have the
edge and hand speed and when he was able to let his hands go and land punches
in combination that appeared to be more effective.
Broner was able to take over in the second half of the fight
by letting his hands go and keeping the fight for the most part off of the
ropes. In contrast to the first six rounds, Taylor’s offensive activity and
aggression seemed to decline as the fight progressed. Although Broner suffered
a cut as a result of a clash of heads in the eleventh round, he closed the
fight strong knocking Taylor down with a left hand in the twelfth and final
round to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision.
Even though both Matthysse and Broner were victorious in
fights that they were expected to win, this card may have set the stage for a
showdown between the two at some point in the near future. For his part, Adrien
Broner stated after his victory over Emmanuel Taylor that he wants to fight
Matthysse in his next fight.
In terms of what this might mean for the landscape of the
Jr. Welterweight division, both Matthysse and Broner are rated number two and
three respectively in the World Boxing Council (WBC) ratings. It is unclear
where the current WBC number one contender Viktor Postol will factor into a
potential fight between Broner and Matthysse in terms of rankings, but it would
not surprise me to see a fight between the two labeled as a world title
elimination bout with the winner to challenge unified champion Danny Garcia.
Even though there might be some questions in regard to what
may be in store for the winner of that fight should it be made, I believe that
a fight between the two offers a classic scenario of a boxer against a puncher
and it will be a fight that both fans and experts will want to see. How soon
can the fight be made is a subject for debate, but clearly it is one of the
biggest fights that can be made at 140lbs.
Are Adrien Broner and Lucas Matthysse on a collision course?
We will have to wait and see.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison
All Rights Reserved.
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