Thurman gets TKO victory over Diaz, Matthysse wins thrilling war with Molina.

Last December Keith Thurman again proved that he merely needs ‘One Time’ to finish a fight, when he stopped Jesus Soto Karass in the ninth round. With 20 stoppages in 23 fights, ‘One Time’ is a fitting moniker. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, Thurman is an exciting boxer-puncher on the rise in the talent rich welterweight division.

Mexican Julio Diaz came into tonight’s bout riding a turbulent wave of form. Winning just 4 of his last 9 outings, ‘The Kidd’ looked to break a two fight losing streak. Whilst the losses came at the hands of solid opposition in Shawn Porter and Amir Khan, a victory tonight would be necessary to maintain any kind of relevancy in his twilight years. The WBA interim title awaited the winner.

Round one began with Diaz sending out a steady flow of jabs. On his part Thurman looked to measure Diaz up, displaying his superior hand speed with a snappy one-two combination. Thurman connected with an eye catching lead uppercut, followed by a solid right hand.

In the second round Diaz was searching for a right over the top, connecting on one occasion. Thurman was selective but accurate with his work, landing a hard lead uppercut that shook Diaz. Diaz took a knee after being countered with a left hook to the temple from Thurman.

The third round saw the most action so far with Diaz backing Thurman up, working the body and touching up top. Thurman showed his ability to fight off the back foot, landing a couple solid hooks to the head of Diaz. Thurman smartly worked the body of the older fighter, making an investment for late in the fight.

It turned out the investment paid off sooner than expected, as the Diaz corner called the fight. Jimmy Lennon Jr. announced a rib injury to Diaz had forced his corner to call the fight. Frustrating ending for Thurman, but during the post fight interview he seemed pleased with his performance.

When pressed on potential opponents, Thurman told Lennon Jr, “Shawn Porter is a great friend of mine and a great boxer puncher like myself. Let’s make it happen”. Thurman vs. Porter is certainly a tantalizing clash were it to happen. The welterweight division is certainly simmering to a boil once again.

Following a brutal demolition of Lamont Peterson, Lucas ‘La Máquina’ Matthysse suffered mechanical issues and dropped a decision to fellow titlist Danny Garcia last September. Whilst Matthysse mentioned eye problems during the bout, it was clear that Garcia displayed superior boxing skills on the night.

The power punching Argentine looked to reinforce the aura he carried to the ring before the Garcia fight against John Molina. Last July, Molina handed TMT member Mickey Bey his first professional loss via TKO. Molina followed up that victory up with a second round knockout of journeyman Jorge Pimentel last November. With one stoppage loss on his record, could Molina keep the power punching barrage coming his way off, to stretch his winning run to three straight?

Both men answered the opening bell with probing jabs, with Matthysse looking to finish a double jab with a right hand to the body. Molina was content to box off the backfoot looking for the right hand, which would play a prolific role in the early settings. As the round closed out, Molina landed a heavy right that shook Matthysse momentarily.

Round two played out much the same until Molina sent an overhand right Matthysse’s way, sending him to the canvas. Lucas answered the count and finished the round strongly in what was a Molina round.

Through rounds three and four, both men willingly exchanged heavy blows. Matthysse’s stiff jab found a home, with a couple of heavy right hands cracking Molina cleanly. Molina replied in kind before a head clash opened a cut above Matthysse’s eye. The bell rung with both men absorbing brutal shots.

In the fifth, Matthysse began to back Molina up, sending him into the ropes with a powerful right hand. During an exchange off the ropes, Molina put Matthysse down with a shot to the back of the head. Lucas protested to no avail and the referee called it a knockdown. In rounds six and seven the fight began to shift inside, with both fighters happy to stand toe to toe exchanging a variety of savage shots. It was at this point Matthysse took hold of the fight and never let go.

Round eight provided a thrilling and brutal round. Molina was now engaging in a shootout inside against ‘The Machine’, and coming up short. Matthysse put Molina on the canvas with a lead uppercut – straight right combination. Molina made it through to hear the bell.

Rounds nine and ten produced a bloody slug fest with Matthysse unloading on a tiring Molina. Lucas created some space to nail Molina with two left hooks upstairs, followed by a clean right hand from Molina to end the ninth.

Matthysse charged from his corner to begin the tenth and swarmed Molina inside with some crunching hooks to the body and following up to the head. It was clear Molina was willing to go out on his shield, living up to his moniker ‘The Gladiator’. Matthysse happily complied, sending Molina to canvas with a savage barrage. Molina survived the tenth.

In between the tenth and eleventh, a heated exchange took place between the ringside doctor and Molina’s corner. The doctor repeatedly asked Molina if he wished to continue. The referee warned Molina he would stop the fight unless he showed him something in the next round. Matthysse provided the reason in the eleventh as Molina crumbled at the hands of Matthysse. Lucas’ 33rd knockout of his career.

Even in defeat, John Molina’s stock rose tonight after an incredible brutal battle of attrition. After a positive start, Molina abandoned fighting off the backfoot which gave him early success and played into the hands of the power punching Argentine. Lucas Matthysse needed to bounce back strongly tonight after the Garcia set back. Despite early adversity, Matthysse rode the storm and turned out another savage display in the ring in what is surely a fight of the year candidate.