Lucas Matthysse would like nothing better than to perhaps get a shot at Manny Pacquiao, but he will have to prove that first. And all that begins when he faces off against Viktor Postol at the StubHub Center in California this Saturday, Oct. 3,
At stake is, of course, the World Boxing Council (WBC) 140-pound belt. If Matthysse comes out victorious, it would be his first time to wear a title belt.
However, a win could mean more than that — a chance to be lined up as Pacquiao's opponent when the Filipino returns to the ring in early 2016.
Is this added motivation? Well, such could be the case if you are taking the angle of Oscar Dela Hoya who feels that should the Argentine brawler put on a credible showing, he could likely be in line to face Pacquiao.
For the record, it is not only Dela Hoya who sees it that way. There is also Bob Arum who has surprisingly taken interest in Matthysse despite talks that Khan is the one that they are leaning on as Pacquiao's opponent for next year.
"There's certainly been discussions with him (Khan) but I wouldn't say he's the frontrunner," says Arum via Boxingscene.com.
These pronouncements come after Arum himself said that Khan was at the top of the list for Pacquiao's possible opponent.
"We were planning for Manny Pacquiao to fight at the end of February, or at the latest, the first two weeks in April," Arum said, citing Khan as the number one target.
Indeed, the sudden interest in Matthysse does come as a surprise, but if he does prove to be a worthier opponent then why not.
As far as Khan is concerned, he is in danger of being shunned yet again.
Recall that he was inadvertently rejected by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in favor of Andre Berto for the recently concluded May 12 tiff. Could it be déjà vu?
