Viktor Postol and Lucas Mathysse (Photo : Reuters)
The proposed fight between Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Mathysse is set aside now that Ukrainian Viktor Postol has knocked Mathysse out.
Now, the new junior welterweight can take his place on the possible PacMan opponent list, but there's only one problem: Where will Freddie Roach sit?
Boxing Scene reported that a PacMan-Postol match is in the cards, even as Postol has the token "I'm ready to fight anybody. I have a team, it's up to them" response.
This is one of the major upsets of the year, although the Ukrainian boxer was previously undefeated. Boxing News 24 recently reported that Postol is now "Freddie Roach's new favorite fighter" insinuating that Roach would possibly dump Pacquiao, but that statement was clarified by the legendary trainer with the LA Daily News.
"It's one of the greatest wins of my career. I said he was my favorite Russian fighter," Roach clarified. "Then somebody told me he was Ukranian."
Roach shared his reflections on the big knockout. "I told the corner right before the 10th round that he (Matthysse) was ready to go," Roach said. "You could see him getting tired. Viktor got him with a right cross and then an uppercut, and I thought that if Matthysse lowered his head, Viktor had a good chance to put him away."
Postol becomes Roach's 36th world champion. He is also in the middle of training Miguel Cotto against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. He seems to be too busy to worry about the fallout from the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, which he has vowed to redeem.
Pacquiao has expressed a desire to return to the 140 lb weight class, where Postol resides. Thus, Roach will have a tough choice if the two fighters clash.
Pacquiao vs Postol may have to wait though and Roach has time to avoid an enviable dilemma, as Top Rank's Bob Arum seems to have plans for the latest champ in his stable before pitting him against his former prime prizefighter.
"This guy is tough to beat," said Arum. "He is going to be a force in this 140-pound division and in 147, too. We can make a lot of good fights with this guy. He has a style that makes him difficult."
