Q&A: Lucas Matthysse

Photo and report by Ricardo Conde

Fightnews caught up with WBO Inter-Continental junior welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (28-1, 26 KOs) at the World Crown Sports Training Center in Oxnard, California to talk to him about his upcoming fight with former WBC/IBF junior welterweight champion Devon Alexander ‘The Great’ (21-1, 13 KOs) of Saint Louis, Missouri that takes place June 25th at The Family Arena in Saint Louis, Missouri, which will be shown live on HBO’s ‘Boxing After Dark’, his fight with current IBF junior welterweight champion Zab ‘Super’ Judah, and a lot more, here’s what he had to say…

You’re currently preparing for your upcoming fight against Devon Alexander, tell us what do you know about him and what’s the plan going into this fight?

Well, I know that he’s a fighter that’s always ready when he gets into the ring, he a former world champion and he’s very experienced. For this fight I came to Oxnard to prepare with Sergio Martinez’ team of Pablo and Gabriel Sarmiento and we have a lot of time to prepare for this fight, we’re very happy because we’ve been given another great opportunity.

You’re going to be facing Devon Alexander in his hometown of Saint Louis, obviously the crowd is going to be rooting for the hometown fighter, do you think the crowd is going to have any affect on you during the fight?

No, not at all. I know I’m going to be in his territory, his hometown but inside the ring it’s just going to be the two of us. I’m going to come in very prepared to win this fight and since we’re fighting in his hometown I know I have to win by knockout.

What kind of statement are you looking to make in this fight with Devon Alexander, and should you get past him do you feel you’re ready to face one of the world champions like Amir Khan or Timothy Bradley?

Yes, or course, we’re right there with those guys. I had a good fight with Zab Judah and then I had a fight in Argentina with ‘Chop Chop’ Corley that went really good for me and now I have this opportunity with Alexander and once I get past him I think better things are on the way.

You’ve fought southpaws in your last two fights, first against Zab Judah and then against DeMarcus Corley, do you feel that’s tremendous advantage for you going into this fight with a southpaw like Devon Alexander?

Yes, definitely. I gained a lot of experience in these last two fights and now that we’re in the same camp with Sergio Martinez we’re taking this fight very serious and we’re going to train really hard for this fight and we’ll be very prepared for this fight.

Let’s talk a little bit about your fight with Zab Judah, in your fight against Judah, which you lost by split decision, in your opinion do you feel did enough to win that fight and is getting rematch against Zab Judah something you’d like in the future?

Yes of course, I believe I won the fight in every way and the rest of the world saw that I won the fight. I think the only thing I should have done was put a little bit more pressure early on but now that he’s a world champion hopefully he can give me the opportunity for a rematch.

Tell us, what type of fight can the fans expect to see against Devon Alexander on June 25th?

Well, I had a lot of experience when I fought against Zab Judah in his hometown and I know I just have to give it everything I have. I’m going to come out with a lot of pressure from the first round and that’s just the way it has to be since we’re fighting in his hometown, putting a lot of pressure from the first round and trying to win by knockout or clearly winning the entire fight.

In closing, is there anything you’d like to say to all the boxing fans?

Yes, I just want to let them know that I’m training hard for this fight and I won’t let this fight slip out of my hands like with what happened in my fight against Zab Judah.

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May 10th, 2011

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