Thomas Mattice (middle) upsets Michael Dutchover (Photograph credit score Amanda Westcott-SHOWTIME)
Thomas Mattice’s profession to date has had a number of setbacks. Relatively than level the finger at one thing or somebody, Mattice has acknowledged his errors and his willingness to be taught from them.
Mattice believes he has but to hit his peak as a prizefighter and is raring to point out he can compete towards the highest junior lightweights within the sport.
The 31-year-old hopes tonight shall be a breakthrough efficiency on the expense of Luis Melendez after they sq. off at Virgin Motels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. The eight-round bout will precede the feminine junior light-weight unification title combat between WBO titlist Mikaela Mayer and IBF titleholder Maiva Hamadouche (ESPN+, 8:30 p.m. ET/ 5:30 p.m. PT).
Each Mattice and Melendez took the combat on two weeks’ discover after the middleweight bout between Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, who’s ranked No. 7 by The Ring, and former titleholder Hassan N’Dam was postponed to the undercard of the November 20 conflict between WBO welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter.
Mattice (17-2-1, 13 knockouts), who resides in Cleveland, Ohio, most just lately fought on June 19, stopping journeyman Deivi Julio in Spherical 4. The combat got here virtually 4 months after stopping Rondale Hubbert within the opening spherical.
Melendez (16-1, 13 KOs), who’s initially from Puerto Rico and now resides in Miami, Florida, has not misplaced since his third combat as a professional and has break up his time combating between the US and Colombia. Regardless of Melendez’s excessive knockout proportion and having solely misplaced as soon as as a professional, Mattice is assured he can take Melendez’s finest punches.
“Similar to every other combat, my goal is to care for enterprise,” Mattice advised The Ring Tuesday morning. “I don’t care who I’m going up towards. It’s similar to one other combat for me. I used to be really within the health club preparing for a combat that was scheduled for the next Friday [November 13]. So I’m prepared. I’m going to go on the market Friday and carry out. I’ll be at my finest.”
Mattice has fought a number of occasions on the favored “ShoBox” collection with blended outcomes. His first look got here in February 2018, stopping Rolando Chinea in Spherical 7. That July, Mattice received a controversial break up resolution over Russia’s Zhora Hamazaryan, who dropped Mattice in Spherical 2. They might combat to a draw over two months later.
Will Madera (proper) throws a proper hand at Thomas Mattice of their co-featured combat. Photograph by Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME
After dropping a detailed resolution to Will Madera in February 2019, which was additionally a part of a ShoBox telecast, Mattice squared off towards then-unbeaten Michael Dutchover in September of that yr. After a sluggish begin, Mattice was getting the higher of the exchanges till the combat was stopped by the ringside doctor in Spherical 8 as a consequence of a minimize above Dutchover’s eye that was attributable to a punch.
In his most up-to-date ShoBox outing on February 14 of final yr, Mattice misplaced a detailed majority resolution to Isaac Cruz, who’s now scheduled to face Gervonta Davis on December 5 in Los Angeles.
Isaac Cruz (proper) vs. Thomas Mattice (Photograph by Matt Heasley)
Mattice admits not being at his finest or totally ready for these fights however discovered extra about himself as a fighter over this time interval.
“I used to be going via loads of conditions throughout the first Hamazaryan combat,” mentioned Mattice, who’s promoted by Vick Inexperienced. “That was the primary time the place I spotted I might take a punch, regardless of the flash knockdown. I bought up and stored on combating. I did higher within the second combat.
“With the Crimea combat, I took it on brief discover. I took that combat to him and bought a terrific consequence. I’m not anyone’s steppingstone however when that combat towards Dutchover introduced itself, I took it. I take nothing away from Dutchover. He’s a very good fighter. I simply had a unique preparation for that combat than something I had achieved earlier than. I personally knew he wasn’t going to outbox me. Even with the win, I nonetheless didn’t present the perfect of my capability.”
Mattice made his professional debut on the age of 24 after a modest beginner profession. Whether or not as an beginner or as a professional, Mattice believes the standard of sparring he has acquired over time has made him a greater total fighter.
“I began late as an beginner,” mentioned Mattice. “I had 95 fights earlier than turning professional. I used to be hanging with skilled fighters like Robert Easter. I sparred different prime fighters and amateurs, profitable some and dropping some.
“I sparred with [unbeaten junior middleweight] Charles Conwell. He advised me to return prepare with him. Similar with [undefeated welterweight contender Jaron] ‘Boots’ Ennis. His father invited me to coach with them.”
After combating his most up-to-date fights as a light-weight, Mattice will drop down in weight. Each Mattice and Melendez got here in at a contract weight of 131.4 kilos.
Regardless of a number of setbacks, Mattice is assured tonight shall be his second to shine and extra alternatives will come his means after defeating Melendez.
“I blame myself for the struggles I’ve gone via. I gained loads of expertise over these final a number of fights. I’m higher than what I’ve proven. I’ve numerous abilities.
“The world is sleeping on me. I’m going to launch it [tonight]. There isn’t any one on the market that may defeat me.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He may be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] or on Twitter @FSalazarBoxing.
