Matthysse calls out Mayweather-Pacquiao winner, not interested in Provodnikov rematch

Following an exciting and grueling win over Ruslan Provodnikov last night on HBO, junior welterweight contender Lucas Matthysse is looking to land a fight with a big fish in the near future, and even called out the winner of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight coming up on May 2.

"I'm ready to take on the next great fighter. I am ready to take on the winner of (Floyd) Mayweather-Pacquiao."

While Provodnikov's promoter Artie Pelullo said they'd be interested in doing a rematch of last night's fight, Oscar De La Hoya, Matthysse's promoter, says they're not interested in that fight.

"I said before the fight that Lucas deserves the big names like Manny Pacquiao. Right now we will explore our options. He will take a little break, maybe fight in Argentina.

"I didn't see the fight that close. I gave Provodnikov maybe four rounds, Lucas fought a great fight. He had a great game plan. Provodnikov is a great fighter with a great heart. I wish him all the best. He has a bright future, but we'll move on."

Matthysse (37-3, 34 KO) threw everything he could at Provodnikov (24-4, 17 KO) in an effort to stop the "Siberian Rocky," but wasn't able to get him out of there, even with some truly vicious assaults in the sixth round in particular, and called his opponent "a rock." Provodnikov called Matthysse the "better man" on the night, and said the Argentine is the hardest puncher he's faced in his career.

Does Matthysse have any shot at landing the Mayweather-Pacquiao winner? You'd think not, but never say never. There was a time no one thought Robert Guerrero or Marcos Maidana would get a fight with Floyd Mayweather, either, and Pacquiao has fought the likes of Brandon Rios and Chris Algieri recently. If there is no Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch in September, then it's not totally out of the realm of possibility that Matthysse could face the winner, or even the loser of that fight. Either way, it would be the biggest fight of his career.