Mayweather vs Ortiz Undercard: Morales vs Matthysse Is Off

by Scott Christ on Sep 8, 2011 3:09 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

The Mayweather vs Ortiz card has lost arguably its best fight.

According to Rick Reeno at BoxingScene.com, Lucas Matthysse has withdrawn from his September 17 fight on the Mayweather vs Ortiz undercard, which was going to see him face Erik Morales for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title. Matthysse has fallen ill and wouldn't have been 100% for the fight.

What this means for the PPV undercard, where this was arguably the best fight on the entire show, is unknown. One option might be Anthony Crolla (21-2, 9 KO), who was set to take an easy fight on the off-TV undercard, and was at one point supposed to be Morales' opponent on the show. Crolla was first bumped by Jorge Barrios, who then had visa issues and was replaced by Matthysse, to the delight of fight fans.

Whether or not Crolla would take a fight against Morales on nine days' notice is another question, and the idea of Crolla replacing Matthysse is just speculation at this point. If Morales is entirely pulled off of the card, Golden Boy may have to bump another fight to the main card. The best option there might be the welterweight ten-rounder between Said Ouali (28-3, 20 KO) and Carson Jones (31-8-2, 21 KO).

This could also open Morales up to a December fight with Amir Khan, which has been talked about plenty, but mostly by Khan and Golden Boy, and not so much by Morales.

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Boooooooo!!!!!

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

@xFenixKnightx on the Twitter

by xFenixKnightx on Sep 8, 2011 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

I was going to buy the Primetime ppv broadcast fo this card but after this disappointment i’m not sure i will now.

by Matt Mosley on Sep 8, 2011 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, it’s a serious blow to the overall quality. I mean, I like Canelo-Gomez as an action fight, but I don’t see it as competitive. I like Vargas-Lopez a lot, but it’s not a money fight. Morales-Matthysse was a good action fight on paper and a fight between a couple of top 10 guys at 140.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Sep 8, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions

MAIDANA MORALES 2, EVERYONE WANTS THIS

Crazy idea: How about Maidana vs Morales 2!!!! Maidana has no fight because of Guerrero’s surgery!

by El Uppercut on Sep 8, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

BLOOOOOOWWWEEEERRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

Me > Ben Henderson
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DIA2ill.com coming soon....

by Krimson on Sep 8, 2011 4:40 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah this blows big time

I hate the Texans

by battle axe of doom on Sep 8, 2011 5:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

We talked a lot here about this fight, and the speculation was more interesting than for the main event.

I was really looking forward to this. Morales’ clock is getting really close to midnight, and I was hoping for one more good one from him.

by DrRck on Sep 8, 2011 7:05 PM EDT reply actions

MORALES

Big blow to the card. Crolla should take the fight and Golden boy should make it worth his while just to keep Morales on the show. Fight fans love Morales and want to see him in action against somebody at this point. What’s Crolla got to lose, this is a great opportunity for him, he needs to step up to save the show.

by JZZY on Sep 9, 2011 9:29 AM EDT reply actions