Final Words: Matthysse vs. Postol
Photos: Gene Blevins/Hogan Photos
Former Interim WBC Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas “La Máquina” Matthysse (37-3, 34 KOs) and former WBC International Super Lightweight Champion Viktor “The Iceman” Postol (27-0, 11 KOs) hosted the final press conference today ahead of their battle for the vacant WBC World Super Lightweight Championship. Matthysse vs. Postol will take place Oct. 3 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark.
The press conference, which was streamed live by The Ring TV, also featured co-main event fighters Humberto “La Zorrita” Soto (65-8-2, 35 KOs), a former three-division world champion, and undefeated contender Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (22-0, 15 KOs) who will battle in a career-defining 10-round super lightweight bout to open up the HBO telecast.
Non-televised undercard fighters including Julian “El Camaron” Ramirez (14-0, 8 KOs), Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (28-1-2, 16 KOs), Nick Arce (4-0, 4 KOs), Marcelino “Nino” Lopez (31-1-1, 16 KOs), D’Mitrius Ballard (9-0, 7 KOs), and Kevin “K-Smoove” Rivers Jr. (12-0, 9 KOs) were also present and will have their respective bouts on Saturday live on GoldenBoyPromotions.com, RingTVLive.com, YIPTV.com , UCNLive.com, Facebook.com/RingTV, The Ring TV Channels on Roku, Amazon Fire and on Livestream.com
Presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box Promotions, Top Rank, Inc. and ELITE Boxing Promotion, the championship event Matthysse vs. Postol will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.
Here is what the fighters and their teams had to say about the event on Oct. 3:
LUCAS “LA MAQUINA” MATTHYSSE, Former Interim WBC Super Lightweight World Champion:
“I’ve very excited, I’m happy to be back in Carson to fight at the Stub Hub Center on October 3.
“Thank you to Viktor Postol and his team for taking this fight. I can’t wait for Saturday.”
VIKTOR “THE ICEMAN” POSTOL, Former WBC International Super Lightweight Champion:
“I’m glad to be here; I’ve waited for this opportunity a long time. I have been preparing for this fight like no other training camp I’ve had before.
“I’ve had a great camp. I’ve sparred with Pacquaio and many other great fighters at the Wild Card Gym. I have all the experience now that people will underestimate. Good luck to Matthysse, and I can’t wait for this fight.”
VADIM KORNILOV, Manager for Viktor Postol:
“This is a revenge fight for our team after Lucas defeated Ruslan Provodnikov earlier this year. We know he can brawl with Postol, and we will be ready for that. I think our team can be victorious because we will be prepared for whatever he has in the ring.
“He was afraid to brawl Provodnikov, and we are going to force him to brawl on Saturday night.”
MARVIN SOMODIO, Assistant Trainer for Freddie Roach to Viktor Postol:
“Freddie Roach is not here today so I’m still in charge. This is going to be the second time our team has faced Lucas (after facing him earlier this year on Provodnikov’s team). On Saturday night, we are not going to let Lucas win again.”
HUMBERTO “LA ZORRITA” SOTO, Former Three-Division World Champion:
“I want to thank my team that has been with me through it all working very hard.
“On Saturday night, it’s not Orozco or Soto that will be the winner; the fans will be the winners in the ring that night.”
ANTONIO “RELENTLESS” OROZCO, Undefeated Contender:
“These last three months I’ve worked very hard, thanks to my team for all their support.
“I just want to show that I’m ready for the big leagues.
“I want to give the boxing fans what they want and deserve with this fight. I know it won’t be easy against Humberto Soto. I’m going to prove on October 3 that I’m ready for the big leagues.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions:
“We have a fantastic undercard set for you on October 3. You can watch the non-televised undercard fights live on Yip TV and RingTV Live.com.
“Ticket sales indicate we will have a total sell out on Saturday night at the Stub Hub Center. A fighter from Ukraine and a fighter from Argentina are selling out a venue in Los Angeles. That’s how you know this is going to be an exciting fight.
“Winning this fight would mean that next year Lucas Matthysse could be in line to have the best challenges against fighters like Manny Pacquaio.”
JULIAN “EL CAMARON” RAMIREZ, Featherweight Prospect:
“I have trained very hard for this and I am ready for the fight. I know my opponent is a strong brawler and I like to brawl it out too. There will be fireworks on Saturday night.”
MERCITO “NO MERCY” GESTA, Former World Title Contender:
“On Saturday night I will show you all who ‘No Mercy’ is.”
NICK ARCE, Super Featherweight Prospect:
“I want to thank everyone who is here today. This fight is very special to me, this fight is dedicated to Gracie who is battling breast cancer. This fight is for her and I am proud to be wearing pink in the ring.”
MARCELINO “NINO” LOPEZ, Super Lightweight Contender:
“I want to thank everyone for this opportunity. I am grateful to my team for making this fight happen.”
D’MITRIUS BALLARD, Light Heavyweights Prospect:
“I’m looking forward to putting on a great show Saturday night.”
KEVIN “K-SMOOVE” RIVERS JR., Super Featherweight Prospect:
“It’s my first time fighting in the west coast and I’m coming to put on a show and take over. I am very grateful and excited to be here.”
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Tickets for Matthysse vs. Postol are priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, and are still available. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.
Matthysse vs. Postol is a 12-round bout for the vacant WBC World Super Lightweight Championship presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Arano Box Promotions, Top Rank, Inc. and ELITE Boxing Promotion and is sponsored by Corona and Mexico – Live it To Believe It!. Doors open at 2:00pm PT and the first fight begins at 2:30 p.m. PT. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins at 10:15 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT.