Provodnikov-Matthysee: when the less skilled boxer wins

....Provodnikov is going to ANNIHILATE Matthysee.

ok ok slow down here, let me explain. Yes this is boxing and anything can happen. Both guys are strong and and its a "pick em" style of fight. And if Matthysee wins, I wouldn't call it an upset or anything. That being said i've listened to all the arguments as to why people pick Matthysee. YES, Matthysee is the bigger KO puncher and the better skilled boxer. That being said, I still think logic dictates he's gonna get knocked out in this fight.

Let me take you guys back to Rios-Alvarado 1, remember that fight? Two big strong power punchers were gonna have a war (just like Prov-Matthysee)....and they did. And of course Rios won the fight by TKO, which in my opinion came as a shock. Why??? Because the same arguments for Matthysee winning are the same ones people gave Alvarado back then. See Alvarado back then was undefeated and was coming off big wins against Prescott and Herrera. But more importantly he showed a variety of skills like jabbing, adjustments, footwork, boxing 101, etc... While Rios was basically the same old come forward brawler, who also was coming off a gifted win against Abril. By all standards...Alvarado held the advantages in being the overall more well rounded fighter.

Now lets look at Prov-Matthysee. Matthysee is being held as the better boxer because of his jab, footwork, defense, etc...just like Alvarado did. But that didn't help Alvarado and neither will it help Matthysee. Why? Because its all a matter of context. Yes Matthysee has more skills than Provodnikov...but these skills are not gonna play a single role in the outcome of the fight. Mattysee's jab and foot work are all based on the assumption that he will be the pressure fighter. That he will cut the ring, use the jab to set up his punches, and break his opponent down. But these are all useless since Provodnikov is gonna be right in front of him pounding away. Matthysee's boxing skills are for him to go forward, not backward...yet that is most likely gonna be the case.

When Alvarado fought Rios, this is exactly what went wrong. The skills he showed in his previous fights were nonexistent. All the jabs, defense, etc...he had shown were gone, and instead he found himself in a pit bull fight against a much more vicious pit bull.

Come Saturday night, the same thing will happen. Matthysee's skills will not show because he doesn't know how to fight backwards and against an oncoming opponent. He will in a pit bull fight. Matthysee has been hurt by lefts and overhand rights, Provodnikov's signature punches. Matthysee has been down and hurt, Provodnikov never has. Matthysee retreats, Provodnikov never does.

The fight will be explosive. Both will come out strong and landing big. But in the end...Matthysee will go backwards and start to retreat, he will get hit, he will get hurt, he may go down, and one way or another...he will be stopped

 

First boxer i've heard that has left him. Wonder if he wasn't getting the same payday other Haymon fighters got. Whatever the reason, lets be glad it happened cause chances are this fight wouldn't have been if he had stayed.