TEMECULA, Calif., (September 28, 2018) – Undefeated lightweight Thomas Mattice will be looking for a more emphatic win when he takes on Zhora Hamazaryan in the co-feature bout of a ShoBox: The New Generation card that will take place tonight at Pechanga Resort & Casino and live on SHOWTIME (10 PM ET/PT).
Photo credit: Dave Mandel/SHOWTIME
Mattice (13-0, 10 KOs) had to get off the deck to win a split decision on July 20th. Fans throughout the boxing world called for the rematch, and Mattice obliged as he has been working hard to better his effort on Friday night.
“Camp was great, we worked very hard and I am ready for Friday night,” said Mattice.
Mattice doesn’t think he needs to make adjustments, as he will fight and use his ability to get the nod on Friday. “I just have to go in there and do my job.”
The 28 year-old from Cleveland doesn’t think anything that happened in the first fight means anything heading into the rematch.
“Every fight is different. It doesn’t matter if you are fighting the same opponent or not.
It was tight. Every round was tight in the first fight. It depends on how you look at it. I know 80 percent of the people watching think I lost. But there were rounds that I won. The only round he out-landed me was the second and seventh round.
“I didn’t give my best effort in the first fight. That’s why I decided to take the rematch. I didn’t have to take it, but I did. I’m not paid to judge fights; I fight them.”
He knows that Hamazaryan gave him a hard fight in the first encounter, but Mattice is confident that he will make it 2-for-2 against his Armenian opponent.
“He is a good fighter, but I am a great fighter. We have to get into the ring and fight. I prepared very hard for this opportunity. The first fight was exciting, and I expect nothing less than that, but once again, I will prevail.”