Carl Froch will have the home fans behind him this time when the IBF Super Middleweight titleholder meets WBA Champion Mikkel Kessler at London’s O2 Arena this Sat. When the pair met three years ago Kessler had the hometown advantage as the fight took place in Copenhagen, Denmark and it definitely helped him as he won a unanimous decision in the spring of 2010. Hopefully their two titles will be unified after this bout and barring a draw, they will be.

The 35-year-old Froch from Nottingham will enter the ring with a record 0f 30-2 with 22 Kos to his name. He’s got good height for the 168 lb division as he’s 6-foot-1 inches tall with a reach of 75 inches. The 34-year-old Dane Kessler is the same height with an inch shorter reach and boasts a record of 46-2 with 35 of his wins coming by the way of knockout.

Froch is a former WBC champion as well as a former Commonwealth and British titleholder. He’s an offense-first boxer who prefers to use his punching power and boxing skills as his form of defence. He’s got a rock-solid chin and is a very determined boxer to deal with. He’s got a bit more power than Kessler, but it didn’t really help him in their first bout since Kessler out boxed him most of the night.

However, Kessler will still have to respect the Briton’s heavy fists since Froch certainly has the ability to turn a fight around with one or two heavy punches. Kessler has proven over the years that he can take a good shot too though, and he might have to in this bout. Froch is an underrated boxer though as he’s not just a brawler. He doesn’t mind fighting it out in the trenches, but he can move around the ring well, throw out a stinging jab, and box when he needs to.

Kessler possesses the same skills though and he’s perhaps just a little bit better at them than Froch. This is how he won the first fight and he’s likely to stick with the same tactics in this matchup. Both boxers have lost just two fights in their pro careers. Froch of course was beaten by Kessler and he also dropped a unanimous decision to American Andre Ward back in 2011. Kessler lost by a technical decision to Ward in the 11^th round in 2009 and suffered a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Welshman Joe Calzaghe in 2007. Kessler’s a former three-time champ and also used to hold the WBC version of the belt, which he took from Froch.

Prediction

The first meeting between these two was quite close and there’s not really any reason to believe this one will be much different. Kessler will be confident due to the win over Froch and the Englishman should also be brimming with confidence since he’s been victorious in four of his past five contests, including a big fifth-round KO over Lucian Bute last May to take his IBF crown. These two match up really well against each other. Froch may be out to avenge his loss against Kessler and if he is he needs to control his aggression and not get wild. This fight could actually come down to the crowd as Froch will receive a lot of support in London. It might just be enough to get him over the hump to win by a relatively close decision.

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Howard discusses his fascinating amateur and professional career as well as going into what he has been doing since his career ended.  Besides training boxers, Davis also worked with a variety of MMA fighters and has even launched his own MMA promotion.

The Jeff Mayweather Show airs each Tuesday only on PBI Radio.

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The O2 Arena in London, England will host the rematch between light heavyweights Tony Bellew and Isaac Chilemba this Saturday May 25. This will be a 12-round elimination bout with the winner supposedly getting a shot at the WBC world title, which is held by Chad Dawson of America. These two fought to a split decision draw just a couple of months ago. Bellew of England will enter the ring with a record of 19-1-1 with 12 Kos while Chilemba of South Africa has a 20-1-2 record with 9 Kos.

Chilemba appeared to have the edge in the first meeting in March had he was busier than Bellew and controlled the distance and the pace of the fight with his effective jab. However, after the fight it was Bellew who seemed to be more upset about the draw than his opponent. Before this bout the 30-year-old Bellew said he only has himself to blame for the result of the first contest since he could have done a lot more against Chilemba.

But to come out of this match with a win he’s going to have to back up his words with his fists and make some adjustments in the ring. He’s quite aggressive and has good hand speed, but he has to control the ring better if he hopes to have his hand raised in victory. He also has to make sure he can go the distance since his energy level dropped off noticeably in March.

The 25-year-old Chilemba will need to start the bout at a quicker pace than the first fight and make sure he doesn’t allow Bellew to back him up as often. He’s also aggressive and has a useful jab, but his punches need to be thrown with more accuracy. He also has to make sure he doesn’t keep his hands too low.

Both boxers have so-so chins as they’ve been to the canvas before. Bellew was decked with a right hand by Ovril McKenzie a couple of times and Chilemba went down from the same punch twice when he fought Maxim Vlasov. Since this is a rematch, they both know each other’s style and what to expect in the ring. Bellew possesses more power and he has the advantage of the home crowd.

Bellew’s only loss came to fellow Englishman Nathan Cleverly back in October 2011 when he dropped a majority decision. He’s won three fights since then and drawn against Chilemba. The South African’s loss came over five years ago and he fought to a draw with Thomas Oosthuizen in the super middleweight division over that time. However, he’s gone the distance 10 times out of his past 11 bouts as he just doesn’t have much in the way of knockout power.

Bellew needs to make a name for himself soon as he’s not really a young man any more in boxing terms. His biggest win so far has been a stoppage over Edison Miranda. His loss to Cleverly was a close one and he’s certainly one of the top light heavyweights in Britain at the moment. Chilemba’s loss came in 2007 and he avenged it soon after in a rematch. His unbeaten streak has reached 14 fights, but he hasn’t really fought any household names in the likes of Vlasov, Michael Bolling, and Doudou Ngumbu. Chilemba has also beaten Miranda as he took him by a unanimous decision.

Prediction

Bellew needs to show a killer instinct in the ring if he wants to make sure he’s the winner. He’s sometimes too cautious in the ring and this is why Chilemba outworked him in the first fight. Bellew needs to stay aggressive for all 12 rounds. If he can do this he should take this bout by a decision.

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Super middleweight contender George Groves of England will be taking on Noe Gonzalez Alcoba of Uruguay at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday May 25. This 12-round but will be for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Championship. The unbeaten Groves carries a record of 18-0 with him with 14 Kos while the veteran Alcoba, who now fights out of Argentina, is 30-2 with 22 Kos to his name.

Both of these boxers aren’t very well known to North American fans and that’s a bit of a shame really. However, since HBO is broadcasting this bout from London they’ll get a chance to check them out. The 25-year-old Groves made a name for himself in December when he easily beat former world champion Glen ‘The Road Warrior’ Johnson of Jamaica over 12 rounds. He’s won two consecutive bouts by knockout since then.

Groves has good boxing skills as well has fine footwork, a solid defence and pretty good hand speed. He’s also got good reflexes which he often needs since he likes to carry his hands a little low. The 34-year-old Alcoba will be a tough test since his confidence should be high. Alcoba has been victorious 16 times in his past 17 bouts and should be a good opponent for the young Briton.

The only bouts Alcoba has lost came to two excellent fighters in former world champion Felix Sturm of Germany in 2007 and to Adonis Stevenson in April of 2012. He was attempting to win the WBA title in his bout against Sturm, but lost a unanimous decision and was stopped in two rounds by Stevenson of Haiti. Alcoba also has decent hand speed and good foot movement. He likes to throw a high volume of punches and prefers to work his opponents over on the inside. He’s also got good power and Groves will need to have a good game plan against him.

Alcoba hasn’t been sent to London to simply be an opponent for Groves, he’s there to win the fight and his chances aren’t too bad. The Uruguayan turned pro back in 2004, but other tan Sturm and Stevenson, it’s hard to recognize any of his other opponents. He’s about six feet tall, the same as Groves, so nobody’s going to have a height advantage here.

Any advantage is going to come from boxing skills and this is where Groves appears to have the edge. He’s got a bit more power and speed and this could be the difference. Oh, and let’s not forget, there will be another advantage since Groves will be fighting in front of his British fans. Groves is a former British and Commonwealth Champion and also has a unanimous win over prospect James DeGale, who he beat by majority decision in 2011.

Prediction

All of the intangibles look good for Groves here. He’s younger, at home, and a little bit quicker than Alcoba. However, the veteran South American should cause some anxious moments for Groves and the British crowd. Look for Groves to take the vacant title by a unanimous decision or late stoppage.

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Public weigh-in for blockbuster rematch tomorrow at 1pm at the O2

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Paulie Malignaggi vs. Adrien Broner is for the WBA welterweight championship, set for June 22nd at Barclays Center on Showtime.

AA- Alright, let’s start this off by talking about your next opponent, Adrien Broner. You have mentioned that he has looked good mostly due to the fighters that have been hand picked to face him. So is it safe to say that you view Broner as a product of careful matchmaking?

PM- Definitely! Broner is more so a product of connections.  In life and in general, a lot of times, it comes down to who you know. And in boxing it’s no different and he is lucky to have Al Haymon in his corner. It’s careful matchmaking and a product of connections. And a lot of the boxing media believes this hype, they buy into it. It’s ridiculous.

AA- So with that being said, does it make you feel that Broner and his team picked you as being a safe bet, as someone that they feel that he can walk through, and in the process pick up another strap in a different weight class? If so, how do you feel about that?

PM- Yeah, you’re right, they think that I’m a careful pick. They figure that since I didn’t look so great in my first defense that they are catching someone that is slowing down. Now usually someone else gets the opportunity, but once again it seems to be ”Haymon’s World”, so that is really why Broner is even in position to have this shot.

AA- I feel that you have an extremely high boxing IQ, so you are going to force Broner to think and look for adjustments to make. Making super key adjustments is something that we have yet to see Broner do. So from that standpoint, I just don’t understand the logic in picking a fight in a new weight class against a real student of the sport. Do you see anything in Broner’s boxing style that you look at and say, ok, he does that very well?

And would I be correct in assuming that Steve Forbes’ slick slippery style and Karim Mayfield’s grind down and body you style are the reasons as to why they were selected to help give you that certain look that is needed?

PM- Yes, that’s exactly right. We wanted grinders for sure because if he thinks of attempting to walk through me because they say that I quote, unquote ”can’t punch,” so then let him try. Go ahead and lift them weights all you want. We are preparing for anything that he brings to the table, so that is also why we got slick slippery fighters in there as well and we are going to be bringing in a few more guys.

As far as my boxing IQ, you are right, it is very high. So as you mentioned, Broner has never had to really think in there, he hasn’t had to make adjustments. And what is he going to do once he finally finds an adjustment to make and then I make another adjustment to what he is doing? You see, he is going to have to really think in there.

AA- You two have had some pretty entertaining confrontations, he has called you a clown, has tried changing your name to Paulette, has even brought in one of your side chicks into the build up of your fight. I mean talk to me, out of all the things that he says and does, what annoys you the most? Or is he simply just adding fuel to the fire at this point?

PM- What annoys me is that he acts like he was born with money, this clown really believes that he earned that money that he flashes around. You either have it or you don’t. He also, along with the media, bought into this ”Haymon Hype.”  Go ahead and believe that you earned that money, keep lying to yourself.

AA- Now I understand that you wanted VADA to do the testing for this fight, but in return you were told that USADA would be doing the testing instead. Now I could be totally wrong, so please correct me if I am. But wasn’t it USADA that busted Morales in his rematch against Danny Garcia, and he was still allowed to fight anyway? I mean, what’s the point of testing if you are going to still allow the fighter that got caught to still go on and fight?

I also heard that VADA is also a lot cheaper in cost than USADA. Who will cover the costs associated with it? VADA from what I have researched on also has more strict testing that’s involved, so it’s a no-brainer for me. In knowing all this, doesn’t it raise concern as to why they are so bent on wanting to only use USADA?

PM- Yes, it raises a lot of concern. But from the start until the end of the day, I did complain about it. But what can you do you know.  I mean I signed the contract so we got to go with USADA.  I just hope that they are a testing organization that takes this real serious. That’s all I can do at this point. But once again, it all goes back to who is calling the shots in all this. And you and I both already know.

AA- I just saw the Matthysse/Peterson fight.  From my couch, Matthysse looks like he punches like a smaller version of Golovkin. But I feel that Garcia’s ability to punch with his opponent will make it interesting. But you are the pro and you just had a very up close and personal look at Matthysse, and you have also called a Danny Garcia fight. If a Garcia/Matthysse fight is to get made, how do you see it playing out?

PM- I think that pound for pound, Lucas Matthysse is that hardest puncher actually. Golovkin has freakish power as well, but Golovkin more so has to grind you down. It’s really an interesting fight, a solid fight. Both Lucas and Danny have good chins and Danny’s punching power must also be respected. I hope we get to see it happen.  That fight has fireworks written all over it.

AA- You have had some beef in the past with Devon Alexander. You just called his fight against Purdy. How did Devon look to you? And I understand that we can not overlook Broner, but if both are on the table, would a fight against Alexander interest you in the future?  Or if Khan makes a jump to 147, would you jump at the chance to avenge your loss and want to face Khan again instead?

PM- Alexander looked good. Purdy was durable, but looked to be out there just trying to survive. So it’s hard to stop someone that is in survival mode. I would love to get either of those guys but first thing is Broner.  So after Broner, then we can sit down and discuss it a bit more.

AA- Alright bro, thanks so much for your time. Is there anything that you would like to say in closing?

PM- Thanks to all my fans out there for the support. Follow me on twitter @PaulMalignaggi.

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Bomber promises improved output in final eliminator rematch with Isaac Chilemba

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Ashley serves as co-host of the Jeff Mayweather Show which airs Tuesday nights on PBI radio.  A graduate of Yale, Ashley then went on to the University of Oklahoma to study law.  Now that she has graduated, she plans to relocate to Texas to pursue her career.  She also serves as a boxing ring card girl for fights all over Oklahoma.

Be sure to catch Ashley each Tuesday, as well as follow her on Twitter @AshleyFerrara.

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Bellows discusses going from a kid not involved in boxing as a sport, to now being a part of The Money Team.

In his last fight, he got things started impressively for his team as he scored a fourth round knockout over Matt Garretson on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather-Robert Guerrero fight.  He looks to return to action quickly, hopefully as part of the Ishe Smith-Carlos Molina card in Las Vegas.

Check out the show to hear the great story of one of the real “good guys” in boxing.  Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @LanellBellows.

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On any given day, a visitor can catch champions like Floyd Mayweather, Ishe Smith, Celestino Caballero getting in fighting shape along with fighters looking to follow in their steps like Luis Arias, Badou Jack and Lanell Bellows.

Other fighters who have fights in Vegas also use the gym as their last stop to prepare for whatever fight they have lined up. From Errol Spence Jr., to Adrien Broner, to Bermane Stiverne, almost anyone is likely to show up there to train.

Even if they are not training, other boxing royalty frequently stops by the Mayweather Boxing Club just to say hello. Harold Lederman, Al Bernstein, Mia St. John, Roy Jones Jr. and anyone else in town is likely to swing by to say hello.

Additionally, there are countless other fighters either with big dreams, or just trying to stay in shape, that call the gym home. However, there is one other person who frequents the gym who stands out as well. Despite her diminutive size, it is hard to miss her approaching due to certain physical characteristics she possesses.

She goes by the name of Gaia, and for those who enjoy the world of internet pornography, she is likely someone who they have come across a time or two. Staying in shape is a prerequisite for the job, but most would guess such actresses would frequent Zumba classes or maybe get into some pilates, not a boxing gym where getting punched in the face happens daily.

Despite a lack of real talent for the sport, Gaia definitely is willing to get in there and mix it up. She isn’t just in there doing some shadowboxing and hitting the pads. She frequently and spars with the fighters. And although she is not someone you would mistake for a professional fighter, it is certainly admirable that she is willing to give it a try.

Who knows if her training in boxing is good for her other career in the long term. Getting hit in the face is not something that usually enhances a person’s looks. But in the meantime, Gaia continues to train hard every day, showing gym regulars and tourists alike that there are more “pros” than just boxers in the Mayweather Boxing Club.

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If there were any doubts as to whether or not Argentinian knockout artist Lucas Martin Matthysse (34-2, 32) is the real deal, you can throw those doubts out the window. For he would in emphatic fashion this past Saturday night stop Washington, D.C.’s IBF junior welterweight champion Lamont “Havoc” Peterson (31-2-1, 16 KO’s), a man who had never before been stopped.

The end came at 2:14 of round three as referee Steve Smoger would mercifully waive the bout off while hovering over a battered and beaten Peterson, this before an awestruck crowd inside Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Boardwalk Hall Convention Center.

Boxing smartly behind a jab and moving laterally early on, Lamont looked to have found a way to perhaps stave off the inevitable. That thought would be short lived however once the stalking Matthysse landed solidly in round 2.

Photoo: Al Bello/ Getty Images

It was in that second frame that Peterson along the ropes would fail to maintain distance, so that eating a right hand downstairs followed by a left hook to the head would see Lamont dropped to the canvass by his Argentine opponent for the first knockdown of the fight.

Able to rise to his feet, “Havoc” would survive to make it to his stool, only to receive more of the same treatment in round 3. Coming out for that third round Peterson looked to abandon his boxing, so that standing his ground Lamont would get caught with yet another left hook, this time even more flush than the first, causing him to hit the deck once more.

Woozy and barely able to beat the count this time, Peterson after being closely looked at by Smoger would be allowed to continue. But on a short leash looking ready to go, Lamont would get floored for the third and final time with you guessed it, a left hook. “I’m upset that I lost the fight,” stated a recovering Peterson.

“I got lazy with the jab. The ref did the right thing in stopping the fight. He [Matthysse] was the better man tonight.”

Although coming up well short, Lamont Peterson by way of this particular fight being deemed a non-title affair, is still the IBF junior welterweight champion. That said, he was no match for Matthysse this night, and in all likelihood will never be.

Marching on in what was a supposed four-man tournament at junior welterweight, with perhaps Amir Khan to oddly figure in the mix, the next and what should be final stop on the tour for Matthysse will see him square off with WBA/WBC, and Ring Magazine champion Danny Garcia, a bout perhaps to take place in September.

And as regards the current situation, if anything Matthysse is confident that he’s the best junior welter on the planet.

“I’m the best at 140,” stated Lucas, “because nobody has dominated Peterson the way I did. 2 and ½ months preparation and I think that was the difference.”

Alexander cruises as Purdy corner pulls plug

Not so much hurt physically, Kell Brook stand-in Lee Purdy (20-4-1, 13 KO’s) of Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom after seven complete rounds would nevertheless break down emotionally when fighter and cornerman Darren Barker saw fit to pull the plug.

The end result, the English fighter would come up well short against IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander “The Great,” (25-1, 14 KO’s), this in what would have been Lee’s first major title bid save for not making the specified 147-pound weight limit.

In nothing short of a lackluster effort, Purdy in coming forward throughout would prove to be victimized by the sharp combinations of Alexander, who on cruise control would beat Lee to the punch endlessly. This from what amounted to a one-handed fighter in the Saint Louis southpaw who had appeared to register a complete shutout.

“I hurt it [the left hand] in the first round,” stated Alexander. I hit him on top of the head and couldn’t throw it like I wanted to.” Overall having an easy go of it, Devon post fight would allude to potential encounters with the likes of Amir Khan, or even Floyd Mayweather Jr. should boxing’s premier pugilist choose to go that route. We shall see.

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Devon Alexander vs Lee Purdy Preview May 18

IBF Welterweight Champion Devon Alexander of the U.S. will be attempting to hold onto his title when he meets Britain’s Lee Purdy at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday May 18. Alexander will climb through the ring ropes with a record of 24-1 with 13 Kos while Purdy boasts a mark of 20-3-1 with 13 Kos. Alexander had hoped to take on another Briton in Kell Brook, but that bout fell through when Brook had to pull out of it due to a foot injury.

Alexander, a southpaw, is one of the best welterweights around and suffered his only defeat at the hands of Timothy Bradley, who also went on to beat Manny Pacquiao. Alexander had to stop in the bout against Bradley in 2011 due to a bad cut and lost in a technical decision. Alexander is an excellent boxer with a good defense, fine hand speed, and accurate punches. In fact, his worst fight was against Bradley and he’s bounced back from that setback with three straight wins.

Those wins have come against some pretty good boxers in American Randall Bailey, as well as Argentina’s Marcos Maidana and Lucas Matthysse. He was dropped by Matthysse, but was able to fight back to win a close decision. He’ll be facing a decent boxer in the 25-year-old Purdy, but not an elite one. Purdy has decent power and likes to stalk his opponents. He’s usually patient in the ring, but when he senses he’s in control he often chases his opponents and has trouble with those who can employ good footwork.

Purdy’s won four straight bouts including a TKO against Cosme Rivera. Before his winning streak he was beaten twice in five fights including a unanimous decision to Denton Vassell back in 2010 as well as a majority decision loss against Colin Lynes last November. He’s definitely going to be taking a huge step up in class when he meets Alexander. He faces a tough task to dethrone the champion because of Alexander’s all-round boxing skills.

Alexander has the ability to use the ring and get in and out with his superior hand speed and foot work. While he’s been decked before, he still has a solid chin and can take a punch well. He doesn’t usually go looking for knockouts, but has the ability to pick up the pace when he senses an opponent’s in trouble.

Prediction

Purdy is really going to have to pick up his game and be at his absolute best here if he has any chance of beating Alexander. He’s going to have to box well enough to win rounds on points because he’s not a one-punch knockout artist. He has to keep as busy as possible and let his hands go every chance he gets. If he can stay busy all three minutes of every round he could make it close on the scorecards. The more likely scenario though is a comfortable decision win by Alexander or a late stoppage by the American.

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Lamont Peterson vs. Lucas Matthysse Preview May 18

The Lamont Peterson vs Lucas Matthysse bout At the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on May 18 should be quite a battle even though neither of the boxers are putting their titles on the line. The American Peterson is the IBF Junior Welterweight Champion and Matthysse from Argentina holds the WBC interim belt. However, expect to see 12 rounds or less of toe-to-toe action.

Matthysse, a well-known power puncher, will enter the ring with an impressive record of 33-2 along with 31 Kos. The 30-year-old stands just over 5-feet-6 inches tall and has a 69-inch reach. The 29-year-old Peterson of Washington D.C. has a 31-1-1 mark along with 16 Kos. Peterson has a height and reach advantage since he’s 5-foot-9 and has a 72-inch reach.

Peterson’s last outing came in February when he beat Kendall Holt by a knockout. His best performance to date was a controversial decision over England’s Amir Khan back I December of 2012. However, he was found to have performance-enhancing drugs in his system and the WBA belt he won from Khan was stripped from him. His scheduled rematch with Khan was also scrapped. When facing somebody as good as Matthysse, he’s going to have to utilize his boxing skills, speed, and experience.

However, the bout could come down to the state of Peterson’s chin. So far in his career it hasn’t exactly served him too well as Khan, Victor Ortiz, and Timothy Bradley have all sent him to the deck in bouts. Give Peterson credit though as he always manages to get back up and carry on. However, if he gets caught clean by Matthysse it could be a different story.

This bout could feature the matador and the bull with Peterson taking on the role of the matador. He’ll need to use his physical advantages as well as his boxing skills to pull it off though. It might be easier said than done because Matthysse is an underrated boxer who has proven his skills against the likes of Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, even though he lost close decisions to both of them. He also managed to drop both of those boxers in their bouts.

Peterson definitely has more hand speed than Matthysse and this could be a crucial aspect of the bout. But in the past, the Argentine has managed to catch up to everybody he’s ever fought as a pro and eventually drop them at least once. It will certainly be interesting to see how Peterson reacts when and if he’s nailed right on the chin.

Prediction

Neither boxer is known for their quick starts and the first couple of rounds here might not be too exciting, but as soon as they’ve felt each other out we could see some fireworks in the ring. The rounds on the scorecards could be crucial if this fight goes the distance and neither fighter can afford to give them away. The fight will still come down to Matthysse’s ability or inability to catch up with the American and land cleanly on him. Peterson has the edge in a boxing match while Matthysse has the edge in a brawl. Therefore expect Peterson to try and box and keep Matthysse at bay. However, sooner or later Matthysse’s likely to hurt him and Peterson’s either going to shake it off or be stopped. Look for Matthysse to eventually stop him late in the fight.

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In what first appears as slight of hand by the IBF in wanting to allow its current 140-pound champion Lamont “Havoc” Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KO’s) to retain his belt, this by way of not coming to terms with Argentinian opponent Lucas Martin Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s), rather this weekends much anticipated showdown has been deemed a non-title affair due primarily to Matthysse himself.

A certain catalyst, Lucas would steadfastly refuse to relinquish his WBC interim distinction, of which the IBF would have none of. By it’s own set of rules the IBF refuses to allow or recognize interim titles so that the fight would have been off entirely save for it now taking place at 141 pounds, or welterweight, a quirky situation guaranteeing that no title whatsoever will be at stake.

No matter though, this Saturday nights event taking place inside of Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Boardwalk Hall is no less a stellar match up between two top fighters at or near the peak of their game. What’s more is that neither contestant seems to care much about hardware at this point.

Stated Peterson, “with me I always thought that we were fighting for my belt until a few weeks ago. But as far as where I’m trying to be in this sport and trying to be the best fighter at the weight class and possibly another weight class, those belts mean nothing.”

Matthysse’s outlook, “obviously an agreement couldn’t be reached for the title but I’m fine with it. Everybody knows two top guys [are] fighting each other [and] that this is an important fight.”

Political maneuvering aside, it’s hoped that this situation will not prevent the emergence of an undisputed junior welterweight champion. For if in fact the Argentine knockout artist is to prevail, it’s at this juncture he’s assured a shot at WBA/WBC, and Ring Magazine 140-pound champion Danny “Swift” Garcia, while there’s no guarantee that Peterson as the remaining IBF representative will ever enter the picture to face either man with belts intact.

I mean the point of Golden Boy formulating a four-man tournament I thought was to establish a solitary champion. Of course if Peterson gets by Matthysse then the above scenario may take a back seat. If not, then the division could very well remain fragmented as is the entire watered down sport of boxing, robbing fans yet again of a true unified champion. We shall see.

But one cannot deny that on paper this bout looks to be a doozy. And after a less than thrilling effort on the part of Robert Guerrero to upend the sports premier figure in Floyd Mayweather Jr. earlier this month, this leaves the door wide open as far as a fight of the year candidate, which this contest has written all over it.

That’s to say neither of these two men seem to know how to take a backwards step in what looks to be a collision course consummated. And its this very aspect that could in fact determine the outcome. Who indeed will force the other backwards when the bell rings on Saturday night?

All told, in a fight that could go either way I’m leaning towards rising star Lucas Martin Matthysse. Seeming to as of late display some of the subtle skills of great champions past, he after certain setbacks would vanquish his most recent opponents. This would include two wins in his native Argentina, while more importantly Lucas would rack up three consecutive victories on U.S. soil.

Of course his latest adversary, that being Michael Dallas Jr., was really an untested quantity at the A-level., so that the ensuing one round blow out in the Argentinian’s favor really doesn’t say much at all as regards his chances against Peterson. This save for the Jersey Joe Walcott move that would turn the trick.

Another of those aforementioned opponents, one Humberto Soto, although highly skilled as a former two-division world champion, had no doubt seen better days after nearly 16 years in the pro ranks. Nevertheless, Matthysse would impressively pound Soto into submission, demonstrating the same power that would eventually propel him past prime foe and long time WBC mandatory title challenger Ajose Olusegun.

And it’s the Olusegun bout that is perhaps the best marker of where the Argentine is really at nowadays as well as belongs, which is at the doorstep of a major title. But in failing to stop recognizable opponents Zab Judah or Devon Alexander in what amounted to step-up bouts, coincidentally the only two losses on his resume, whether controversial or not Lucas Matthysse would come up short on the scorecards.

So will Matthysse short of a knockout yet again find himself at the mercy of the ringside judges? If so the process thus far hasn’t been kind to him. But despite this Lucas doesn’t seem to feel he absolutely needs the kayo.

“I’m not coming in with that mentality” [the kayo mentality], stated Matthysse. “I know that I’m going up against a very experienced fighter [so] I’m going to work just like I’ve been working hard for the fight and I believe the judges will give a clear decision.”

That said, Peterson after a lengthy layoff looked impressive enough against a less than impressive Kendall Holt to perhaps get it to the scorecards. To do this Lamont’s chin will have to hold up unlike 31 of Matthysse’s 33 previous opponents. If indeed it does go the distance, Peterson may get the nod much in the same way he did against Amir Khan.

Because let’s face it, Lamont’s bout against Khan was just as controversial in the overall scoring as it was controversial concerning the referee’s handling of the affair. I had Amir winning the majority of rounds in that bout so that despite point deductions Khan could have easily been awarded an outright victory if not a draw. But that was in Peterson’s hometown so let’s see how things are handled in New Jersey.

In summing up, Matthysse by all outward appearances looks to have a marked edge in power of which the most intriguing part of this bout may be how well Peterson responds to it. “I normally don’t worry about anybody’s punching power before the fight,” said Lamont. “I understand that it’s boxing and I’m going to get hit. [But] even if a person can’t punch that hard, if he hits you clean you can go out. So I mostly concentrate on not getting hit clean and that’s what I’ll do in this fight.”

Whether Peterson avoids a pivotal blow from the Argentine is definitely at issue. But for what it’s worth, I see “Havoc” able to wreak some havoc of his own. This may very well allow him to get through the storm so that whether Matthysse looks to be the better fighter over the long haul, short of delivering the coup de gras Lucas as the foreign fighter combined with Peterson having the luck of the draw may in all likelihood see a closely contested bout awarded to Lamont.

All the more important Lucas Matthysse in my opinion land some heavy leather if he plans on meeting up with Danny Garcia. Catch all the action live on Showtime Championship Boxing beginning at 9pm ET/PT from the Boardwalk Hall Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

This card also features International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Devon Alexander “The Great” (24-1, 13 KO’s) of Saint Louis, Missouri defending against Kell Brook-replacement Lee Purdy (20-3-1, 13 KO’s) of Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom.

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