By Ben Jacobs

Mario Arano has been the manager of Lucas Matthysse throughout his career as a professional. As a company, Arano Box has been promoting fights since 1989, although Arano himself has been involved in boxing for an even longer period. Following the news of Matthysse’s contract renewal with Golden Boy Promotions, BoxingScene reached out to Arano for his reaction to the news as well as an update on Matthysse’s next move among rumours that he could face Ruslan Provodnikov.

BoxingScene: Congratulations on the new contract with Golden Boy Promotions. Is Lucas also still working with Al Haymon?

Mario Arano: No, Lucas isn't working with Al Haymon. He was his advisor when we were all working together, but now Al Haymon has formed his own company, as everyone knows, but we have stayed with Golden Boy. I have worked with Golden Boy for a long time. On Monday, which is actually my birthday, I'll also be celebrating 41 years as a promoter. I've worked with basically all promoters around the world. I've worked with French promoters, in England with Frank Warren, with Sauerland, etc. Over the last ten years we've worked with Golden Boy Promotions, we feel very comfortable with them, we consider them to be family.

BoxingScene: You must be proud to work with Lucas especially as his popularity in the United States has soared in recent years.

Mario Arano: We're very proud to work with Lucas not only because he's a great fighter and professional but even more so as a person. I've always said he's an even better person than he is a fighter. He's an excellent guy, he loves his family, he loves his daughter and he is very loyal. We've been together for 11 years, we saw him in the amateurs and worked since he started in the professionals.

I also worked with his brother Walter, who fought in the United States, he fought Paul Williams. Lucas has showed he's at the top level. What has surprised me in the last two or three fights in the US is that he practically hasn't been able to walk over there because everyone stops him for photos and autographs, but that's how it is. He's even more popular in the US than in his own country. In Argentina he is a superstar but we are based in Junín which is four hours from the capital of Buenos Aires so we don’t feel it as much. At the same time he's not a big fan of talking to the press, he's a quiet guy.

BoxingScene: Could you give an update on how negotiations are proceeding for his next fight?

Mario Arano: We don’t have the exact date yet but in two weeks he will start a full training camp, even though he is training already. Around the middle of March he will fight. We don't have an opponent yet. But we know that we'll have a fight around the middle of March more or less. Let's hope it's against Provodnikov. Time and money has to be correct. The time is right and I believe the money will be as well. We will fight anyone, that has already been demonstrated. We fought Judah in his backyard, Alexander in his backyard, Molina. Danny García had a lucky night after the eye injury and also Lucas was not 100% emotionally that night for a few reasons. In any case we are ready for a war.

BoxingScene: Do you think a rematch with Danny García could still happen at some point?

Mario Arano: I believe that Danny García will never fight Matthysse again. García would rather change weight class than fight him again. I hope that we can have a rematch though. He was very lucky, the eye injury was from a clash of heads during a clinch. If we are fortunate to fight him again it will be a different story. I have no doubt at all that Peterson will beat García. García has been well managed and I believe that Mauricio Herrera beat him.

BoxingScene: Is there any chance that Lucas will move up in weight soon?

Mario Arano: We're going to try to win a world title with one of the governing bodies, it doesn’t matter which. We want a world title shot, that’s why we haven’t fought until now since last Septemberm. Lucas wants to stay at this weight but maybe at the end of the year or in 2016, if the right offer comes along we will move up to 147lbs. He is comfortable at this weight. He is ready for the big leagues and big fights.