A fight between junior middleweight power punchers Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov may be announced soon, as Sherdog.com is reporting that a source close to the negotiations has said it's a done deal, with the fight scheduled for March 28, likely at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Matthysse (36-3, 34 KO) just signed a five-year extension with Golden Boy Promotions on Thursday, with Oscar De La Hoya circumventing adviser Al Haymon to make a deal with Matthysse and his manager directly. Provodnikov (24-3, 17 KO) is with Banner Promotions. The fight will most likely take place on HBO if it happens.
Matthysse, 32, has won two straight fights since a September 2013 loss to Danny Garcia. In 2014, Matthysse beat John Molina by 11th round knockout in April, and then Roberto Ortiz by second round knockout in September. Both fights were aired on Showtime.
The 31-year-old Provodnikov had a breakout 2013, losing a Fight of the Year-type battle with Tim Bradley, and then knocking off Mike Alvarado to win the WBO junior welterweight title. Provodnikov would lose the belt in his first defense in June 2014, upset by Chris Algieri, and came back in late November to beat the faded Jose Luis Castillo in Russia.
If this fight goes down, who do you like to win?