Matthysse nips Provodnikov, challenges Pacquiao, Mayweather

Lucas Matthysse (R) lands a right cross against Ruslan Provodnikov at the Turning Stone Resort Casino on April 18, 2015 in Verona, New York. Matthysee won the 12 round bout by scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 115-113. Alex Menendez/Getty Images/AFP

HOLLYWOOD—For Argentine Lucas Matthysse, either Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao is fair game.

Emboldened by his hard-earned victory over Russian Ruslan Provodnikov Saturday, the rapid-punching Matthysse hurled a challenge to the winner of the Mayweather-Pacquiao tussle on May 2 in Las Vegas.

Matthysse dominated the early rounds and then withstood Provodnikov’s incessant assault to escape with a majority decision in the co-header of HBO Boxing After Dark held at Turning Stone resort Casino in New York.

Their exchanges were so furious that the 12-round bout was quickly hailed as leading candidate for Fight of the Year.

Though Matthyse (37-3 with 34 knockouts) survived Provodnikov (24-4, 17 KOs), most boxing experts felt that he was still nowhere the caliber of either Pacquiao or Mayweather.

Provodnikov, of course, was Pacquiao’s former sparring partner who subdued Mike Alvarado to wrest the World Boxing Organization light welterweight title in 2013.  While Matthyse wields power at 140 pounds, his capability to compete at 147 pounds needs to be tested first before he can be considered a serious challenger to the likes of Pacquiao or Mayweather.

For more updates on Pacquiao-Mayweather “Fight of the Century,” visit The Pacquiao Files.