By Jake Donovan





Barring last-minute September additions to its current schedule, HBO's fall boxing season will formally kick off October 3. The cable giant enters with a bang, as all terms have been reached for a vacant junior welterweight title fight between Lucas Matthysse and unbeaten Viktor Postol. The two will headline at StubHub Center, the boxing-friendly venue in Carson, Calif. that has played host to a number of recent classics in the ring.





This bout—or really any involving Matthysse—figures to add to the collection.

"After giving fans one of the most riveting fights of 2015, Lucas Matthysse returns to face undefeated Viktor Postol, as these super-lightweights battle to capitalize on a well-earned opportunity to win a first world title," said Peter Nelson, HBO Sports Vice President of Programming. "Having been home to so many memorable fights in recent years, the StubHub looks to have another in Matthysse-Postol, and we are privileged to present it to our subscribers October 3rd on Boxing After Dark."

Below is what the fighters and their teams had to say about the upcoming showdown on Oct. 3:

"Postol isn't anything big; he boxes well but that's it," said Lucas Matthysse, Former Interim WBC Super Lightweight World Champion. "I saw part of his fight against Selcuk Aydin but other than that there aren't very many videos of him on the Internet. I'm not taking him lightly though, because he's at the top of the rankings for a reason."

"Postol is tall like John Molina, but Molina came to fight," Matthyysse continued. "Postol, I don't think so. He moves his left very well, fights at a distance, seems fast on his feet, and has excellent head movement. Against Aydin he got off to a slow start but then dominated and got the knockout. He's good, but I'm confident that I'll be the WBC World Champion."

"I am glad that I am finally getting my chance to fight for the WBC world title after all those hurdles and delays," said Viktor Postol, top super lightweight contender. "To get to this fight I had to go through 6 years of hard work and dedication in the gym and in the ring. I am ready mentally and physically to win this fight and bring the world title back to the Ukraine!"

"Lucas was the winning half of the 2014 fight of the year and once again came out on top of what nearly everyone considers the 2015 fight of the year - if fans want action, they know where they're going to get it on Saturday, October 3," said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "Lucas knows that a victory here would not only earn him the WBC World Super Lightweight Belt but would establish him as the clear top fighter in the division. With so much opportunity, I fully expect he'll put on a dynamite show at StubHub Center."

"Viktor is a tremendous boxer-puncher, and we give him a helluva shot to beat Lucas Matthysse," said Boxing Hall of Fame Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, Inc.

"We're going to work for this fight with the same or even greater responsibility than for Matthysse's previous fights," said Mario Arano, President of Arano Box Promotions. "I know Lucas will beat Postol by way of KO. After this fight we want Manny Pacquiao because even Bob Arum has mentioned the possibility of this fight happening. I'm sure our team at Golden Boy Promotions will work to make it happen."

"After Postol, as the WBC World Champion, Lucas will be more than ready for mega-fights, Arano said. "That's why we want Pacquiao, hopefully it can happen. If not, we're ready for anyone. Too bad Mayweather will retire. Honestly, I truly believe the only fighter in the world that can beat Floyd is Lucas Matthysse."





"We are looking forward to another great event with Lucas Matthysse who proves himself time after time to be one of the best fighters in the super lightweight division," said Vadim Kornilov, manager for Viktor Postol and President of VK Management. "After the Provodnikov fight in which Lucas came out victorious, this fight is kind of like a revenge fight for our whole team, and we will make sure to not let this one slip away.

"In the last 10 years our company has done a lot to develop professional boxing in the Ukraine," said Stepan Chernovetskiy, President of ELITE Boxing Promotions. "Viktor Postol has been one of our top prospects and we have done a lot to get him to a world title shot specifically with the WBC, which is one of the most respectable organizations. Viktor is a very good and technical boxer; myself and all of Ukraine will be supporting him in this fight and he has everything in order to win!"

TICKET INFO





Tickets for Matthysse vs. Postol are priced at $150, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges, and go on sale Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets can be purchased at AXS.com, by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), and at StubHub Center Box Office (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available by calling 877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, call 877-234-8425.





SOCIAL MEDIA INTERACTION (Use #MatthyssePostol to follow on Twitter)

Golden Boy Promotions: @GoldenBoyBoxing

Top Rank: @TRBoxing

HBO: @HBOBoxing

Stub Hub Center: @StubHubCenter

Lucas Matthysse: @MatthysseLucas

Viktor Postol: @ViktorPostol





Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox