Mathieu Stops Falcao in Eight to Defend NABF Title

Wilkens Mathieu found the finish in the eighth round. Wilkens Mathieu recorded the biggest win of his career on Thursday night, stopping former world title challenger and Olympic silver medallist Esquiva Falcao in the eighth round at Théâtre Capitole in Quebec City, Canada. With it, the Canadian defended his NABF super middleweight title and moved to 16-0, eleven of those wins by stoppage, at the age of twenty-one.

How it was decided

Mathieu set the terms early. Mathieu is a 21-year-old who started strong, swarming the former title challenger Falcao in the first four rounds. The speed gap was plain from the opening bell. Wilkens Mathieu had far greater handspeed and power. Falcao, thirty-six and durable, did not fold under the pressure. The 21-year-old Mathieu didn't have it entirely his way in this one, as the veteran competed and made Mathieu work.

The end came when Falcao pressed. Falcao stepped up the pace in the eighth round, but he left himself vulnerable by engaging, and Mathieu took advantage of it. Near the close of the round, Mathieu landed clean and forced the stoppage. It was the kind of finish that draws comparisons: several observers noted that the eighth-round stoppage recalled Kelly Pavlik's finish of Jermain Taylor nearly two decades ago.

For all the swarming start, there was instruction in the harder middle rounds. Mathieu wasn't absolutely perfect, but there was great value in this experience; Falcao showed up, competed, and Mathieu came through.

Where it sits in the story

This was a step up in class, met and answered. Falcao arrived with a record of 32-3 and a 2012 Olympic silver medal, a résumé built at the level Mathieu is climbing toward. The bout was also the first defence of the belt he already held. The undefeated Quebec City native made the first defence of his NABF super middleweight title. He is a product of the Eye of the Tiger stable, and the promotional entity has now developed another high-profile title contender in him.

The trajectory is clear enough. A twenty-one-year-old with sixteen professional wins does not usually share a ring with a former Olympic medallist, let alone stop him. Mathieu did both at home, in front of a Quebec City crowd, on a card carried by his name. The talk afterward turned quickly to bigger opponents. That is the reward, and the risk, of a night like this.

Wilkens Mathieu began the evening as a promising prospect. He ended it a little harder to overlook.