Subriel Matías, with a record of 20-1 and 20 knockouts, is set to defend his IBF light welterweight belt against #6 ranked Liam Paro in Puerto Rico on June 15th. The fight will take place at the Coliseo Juan Aubín Cruz Abreu in Manatí, marking Matías’ second title defense.
Despite being the defending champion, many boxing fans on social media are favoring the challenger, 27-year-old Aussie Liam Paro, who boasts a record of 24-0 with 17 knockouts. Paro’s recent victories over Montana Love and Brock Jarvis have impressed fans, leading them to believe he has what it takes to defeat Matías. However, for Paro to emerge victorious, he will need to showcase a solid chin as Matías is known for his punching power and relentless attacking style.
Matías recently signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, opening up the possibility of exciting matchups in the future. While a potential clash with Devin Haney is on the table, Haney and his team will ultimately decide if they want to face Matías as part of the new agreement. If Haney remains at 140 pounds to pursue becoming the undisputed champion, a showdown with Matías could be in the cards down the line.
Expressing his excitement about defending his title in front of his home crowd, Matías stated, “The mentality will always be the same, and in front of my people I don’t even have to say it, they know me.” The 31-year-old fighter, known as “The Pride of Maternillo,” remains focused on showcasing his skills and successfully defending his hard-earned title.
Matías had previously aimed to unify the titles by luring WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez into a fight, but Lopez showed little interest in the matchup. The reluctance of Lopez to face Matías could be attributed to the perceived risks involved, as Lopez tends to be selective in choosing his opponents.