Former world champion Lucas "La Maquina" Matthysse (38-4, 35 KOs) of Chubut, Argentina held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at Malbec Argentinean Cuisine in Santa Monica, California to announce his upcoming fight against undefeated Thai superstar Tewa Kiram (38-0, 28 KOs) for the vacant WBA welterweight world title. Matthyse will square off against Kiram Saturday January 27th at at the "Fabulous" Forum in Inglewood, California live on HBO Boxing After Dark.
UCAS "LA MAQUINA" MATTHYSSE, WBA Inter-Continental Welterweight and WBO International Welterweight Champion:
"I'm happy to be back in the United States. We're preparing well. I've had a great camp. I started camp early in Argentina, and now I'm looking forward to closing camp with Joel Diaz in Indio, California. I don't train for the knockout, but if the knockout comes, I'll welcome it. I fought everyone at 140. I want to do the same as I did at 140; I want to fight the best."
JOEL DIAZ, Trainer to Lucas Matthysse:
"I'm really happy to be part of Lucas Matthysse's team. He's a great fighter. Coming in he's very motivated. In my first fight him with him, he did really well with Emmanuel Taylor. Coming in to his second fight, he was motivated and happy. I always say that a happy fighter is a successful fighter. You're going to see a great Matthysse, one who is ready to become world champion."
ROBERTO DIAZ, Head Matchmaker of Golden Boy Promotions:
"On January 27, Argentine knockout artist "La Maquina" Matthysse will battle Thai superstar Tewa Kiram in a 12-round battle for the vacant WBA Welterweight World Championship at the "Fabulous" Forum.That night, Golden Boy Promotions will have a double main event at the Forum, with Jorge "El Nino De Oro" Linares battling the once-defeated Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta in a 12-round fight for Linares' WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine Lightweight World Championships."
"Lucas Matthysse is a power puncher who is one of the best 140-pounders of this era and has defeated some of the very best of that division. Mathysse recently entered welterweight division when he stopped Emmanuel "Tranzformer" Taylor, and he is ready to fight the very best at welterweight."
"Gesta has not tasted defeat in six fights, beating quality opponents including Gilberto "El Flaco" Gonzalez and former contender Martin "El Brochas" Honorio. He is hungry for this fight and for this chance to be world champion."
Also present at the press conference Tuesday afternoon was Mercito "No Mercy" Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KOs) as he will take on Venezuela's Jorge "El Nino De Oro" Linares (43-3, 27 KOs) in a 12-round championship bout for Linares' WBA, WBC Diamond, and Ring Magazine lightweight titles.
MERCITO "NO MERCY" GESTA, Lightweight Contender:
"I know it will be a tough fight. I'm a challenger, an underdog. But I love that feeling. It makes me hungrier, train harder and box smarter. I've worked with Jorge [Linares] before with some sparring. I know sparring is different, but I did well. Still, I know his style and power. With the help of Coach Freddie, we'll have the right strategy. I am hungry for this title. I'll do anything to get that title. I will give a good show in that fight."
FREDDIE ROACH, Trainer to Mercito Gesta:
"We're in a real tough fight. My guy [Mercito Gesta] is definitely getting ready for this fight. We're going over a lot of strategy. We started sparring yesterday, and it went well. We still have a lot of time to work a little more. He's looking good so far. I feel we can win this fight. This is a good opportunity for us and we have to take advantage of it as much as we can."
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