It took knockout artist and WBC Interim Super Lightweight World Champion Lucas Matthysse only three rounds to claim his 32nd knockout against IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Lamont Peterson in front of an excited crowd Saturday night. In the co-main event from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Devon Alexander outclassed Lee Purdy with a seventh-round technical knockout win after Purdy's corner waved the fight off.
Matthysse (34-2, 32 KO's) used the first round to feel out Peterson and promptly picked up the pace in the second. The Argentine began landing with ferocity and eventually dropped Peterson (31-2-1, 16 KO's) with a left hook late in the round. Early in the third, another left hook landed flush sending Peterson down again. The IBF World Champion beat the count, barely, and was on wobbly legs when Matthysse came in for the finish. Moments later, after the third knockdown courtesy of a left hook, referee Steve Smoger waved off the fight at 2:14 of round three.
During the fight SHOWTIME boxing analyst Paulie Malignaggi spoke of Matthysse's power and said, "It is literally like a bomb exploding every time he lands a punch."
After the fight, Matthysse spoke through a translator, "The first round I was trying to find out what I was bringing to the fight. After the second round I started connecting with more force. I had two and a half months of preparation for this fight and that was the difference."
Feeling confident, Matthysse boasted, "Now I know I am the best at 140 pounds because no one has ever dominated Peterson the way I did tonight."
When asked by SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray if he would like to fight Unified Super Lightweight World Champion Danny Garcia, who was in attendance at Boardwalk Hall, Matthysse responded, "Golden Boy and Al Haymon will get me that fight. I'm ready for that fight. I want to fight him."
Gray also spoke with Peterson right after the fight and asked how he felt following the three knockdowns. Peterson said, "I feel good. There is nothing physically wrong with me right now. Of course I am upset that I lost, but so far I feel good."
On his performance, "I think I got a little lazy with the jab. I started relaxing a little bit...I guess he hit me with a good shot. He did a good job. I recovered from that first knockdown and I was okay for a while and then, eventually, he hit me again and he hurt me again. I still thought I could have fought through it but the ref did the right thing. I guess tonight he was (the better fighter). He won the fight fair and square tonight. He's a good fighter."
In the co-feature, Alexander (25-1, 14 KO's) went to work immediately, wasting no time in taking control of the fight, confusing Purdy (20-4-1, 13 KO's) at times with a good variation of body work and shots to the head. Purdy was able to stay in punching range for the first few rounds, even getting off some damaging shots of his own, but he was never able to hurt Alexander who easily stayed in control, firing shot after shot. After the seventh, Purdy's corner threw in the towel.
Alexander admitted that he wasn't able to fight to the best of his ability due to an injury."I hurt my left hand in the first round actually. I hit him on top of the head. I hurt my hand, but I had to get that out of my mind. I had to fight to win. I wanted to impress tonight. My left hand was on point in camp. When I hurt my biceps, that strengthened my left hand so it would have been popping real hard, but I hurt it. I had to set it up softly. I wanted to use my hook and my upper cut but I couldn't."
He continued, "There are going to be a lot of critics saying Purdy wasn't all that anyway, but he's a good fighter. Over in the U.K. he beat some good guys and I think he was very suitable. He came to fight and he gave me a good fight. I got the win. I got the technical knockout."
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast featuring the dominant performance by Matthysse will replay Sunday at 9 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and Tuesday, May 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME. It will be availabe on SHOWTIME On Demand beginning May 19.
Results from tonight's SHOWTIME EXTREME televised preliminary bouts:
In a battle of unbeaten contenders, Shawn Porter (21-0-1, 14 KO's) defeated Phil Lo Greco (25-1, 14 KO's) via unanimous decision in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.
Hot prospect Thomas Williams Jr. (14-0, 10 KO's) defeated veteran Otis Griffin (24-13-2, 10 KO's) by unanimous decision in an 8-round light heavyweight bout.
2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist Anthony Ogogo (2-0, 1 KO) of England defeated Edgar Perez (5-5, 3 KO's) via unanimous decision in a 6-round middleweight bout. .
The SHOWTIME EXTREME undercard bouts will re-air on Thursday, May 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME.
Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, took place on Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City, Corona and AT&T and was televised live on SHOWTIME®. In the co-main event, IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander defended his title against IBF number four rated welterweight contender Lee Purdy.
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