CORNWALL, Ontario – Tony Luis can add “world title holder” to his resume if he wins this weekend.
The Cornwall boxer, thanks to a paperwork snafu, will now fight Saturday night in Liverpool, England for the WBA World Lightweight title.
In boxing parlance, Luis knows this is his shot.
“We’re going for the big one,” he said in an interview. “This is it – absolutely.”
Luis was originally scheduled to fight Friday in Minnesota. Now he will square off against Derry Mathews (37-9 20 KO) because the original fighter in that contest could not get his visa paperwork completed in time.
Luis goes into the fight on a hot streak, now 19-2, and with the WBC Continental Americas championship belt around his waste.
But a world title? That’s a different thing all together.
“My father got a call from my promoter Monday night. He said ‘I have a proposition for you,'” said Luis. “I already know a little bit about (Mathews).”
Luis will be in tough for sure. His opponent will be fighting on his own turf, and has some strengths.
“He’s a stand-up boxer, and he’s British. He’s in shape. I know he’s going to come to fight,” said Luis. “But anything he can do, I can do better. I’ve had a good training camp and I am in great shape.
“The only thing I was worried about was a bit of jet lag. But we’re leaving (Tuesday night) and I’ll have time to get used to it. It’s a week notice for me – but it’s also a week notice for him too.”
There is no word yet on the time of the fight, or potential TV coverage. We will update this story with that information as it becomes available.
