Hard-hitting KO artist Subriel Matías plans to kick start a big year for his native Puerto Rico when he faces unbeaten Jeremias Ponce for the vacant IBF 140-pound world title this Saturday, February 25 headlining live on SHOWTIME from The Armory in Minneapolis in a Premier Boxing Champions event.
“I represent both my country of Puerto Rico and my city of Fajardo each time I step into the ring,” said Matías. “When I win on February 25, it will only be the beginning of a glorious year for Puerto Rican sports. Not only will I be world champion, but hopefully we’ll win the World Baseball Classic so we can all rejoice.”
To put himself in position to fight for the world title, Matías has put together three of the best performances of his career following a decision loss to Petro Ananyan in February 2020. Matías bounced back by stopping two previously unbeaten fighters, Malik Hawkins and Batyrzhan Jukembayev, to set up a rematch with Ananyan. Matías was able to drop and stop Ananyan in the ninth-round of that fight and set up this showdown with Ponce. Argentina’s Ponce will enter the fight as the underdog, but for Matías, he sees that his opponent holds similar attributes to one of Ponce’s countrymen.
WHEN IS MATIAS VS. PONCE? DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, February 25
- Main card: 9 p.m. ET / 2 a.m. GMT
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 11 p.m. ET / 4 a.m. GMT
- US viewers an watch the fight on Showtime
- The fight will take place at The Armory in Minneapolis.
- The main card is set to get underway at 9 p.m. ET / 2 a.m. GMT with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 11 p.m. ET / 4 a.m. GMT.
“Ponce is tough and he possesses a unique style,” said Matías. “I would compare him to Marcos Maidana, who’s shocked the boxing world plenty of times. I don’t see a lot of people similar to him in boxing nowadays. Ponce is a great fighter, and I respect both him and Argentina. But my goal is to not let this fight go the distance.”
In preparing for his first world title opportunity, Matías took up camp in the remote Jiquipilco, Mexico, which is located two hours outside of Mexico City, and has stayed there for over 10 months as he nears a potentially life-changing fight.
“Being in this location has helped me find the peace and focus that I needed to be ready for this fight,” said Matias. “I’ve had great sparring that’s helped me prepare for a lot of different styles and I’ve been running six times a week.”
Although the 30-year-old has thrived in training, he admits that amongst everything that could be coming, he most looks forward to reuniting with his family after February 25.
“My youngest daughter was born a week after my last fight, so I was only able to be with her for three months,” said Matías. “We keep in touch constantly, but the first thing I’m going to do after the fight is spend time with my three daughters. I’m blessed to have three beautiful princesses that fill my heart, and it’s my duty to take care of them.”
After expressing his respect for his unbeaten opponent, Matías made clear that his sights are set squarely on one of the division’s big names, as he hopes to go right after WBC 140-pound world champion Regis Prograis with a win on February 25.
“When I finish this fight with my arm raised high I’ll have only one name in mind: Regis Prograis,” said Matías. “Prograis thinks that he’s the only character in boxing, and I respect him a lot. But I want to show him that there are people in this world that can be even crazier than he is.”
Matías vs. Ponce will see top super lightweight contenders square off as popular knockout artist Subriel Matías meets undefeated Argentine Jeremías Ponce for the vacant IBF 140-pound World Championship on Saturday, February 25 live on SHOWTIME from The Armory in Minneapolis headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features the return of Minneapolis-native Jamal “Shango” James in the 10-round welterweight co-main event as he battles 2016 Argentine Olympian Alberto Palmetta. Kicking off the telecast, exciting super lightweight contender Elvis Rodríguez duels the hard-hitting Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno in a 10-round attraction.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and through Ticketmaster.
Matias Ponce Fight Card & Weights
Subriel Matías 139.2 vs. Jeremías Ponce 139.6
James 146.8 vs. Alberto Palmetta 147
Elvis Rodríguez 139.8 vs. Joseph Adorno 140
Kudratillo Abdukakhorov 146 vs. VeShawn Owens 147
Derrick Jackson 149 vs. Willie Jones 147.8
POST WEIGH-IN FLASH QUOTES
Subriel Matías
“I’m 30 years old and to this day, I don’t know what the canvas feels like. I’m going to be the one knocking him out. I told my mom ever since I was 12 or 13 years old that I was going to make her proud and become a world champion. This is my chance.
“It would be very exciting for me to win this fight by knockout, and I think that’s the way it’s going. The ‘Orgullo de Maternillo’ is going to win by knockout before the seventh round.”
Jeremías Ponce
“I didn’t come here on vacation. I want everyone to see that I’m here to win and prove that I’m the best. It’s going to be an outstanding fight. The fans are going to love it. We’re both winners and we both came here to win. You’re going to see an all-out battle.
“I’m very proud to write a new chapter in the Puerto Rico vs. Argentina rivalry. I’m looking forward to showing everybody what Argentina can do inside the ring on Saturday night. I’m going for the knockout.”
Jamal James
“It feels good to be back fighting at home. I think the people missed me. We put in the work and now, I just want to give a great show. This fight is very important, but every fight is important. You have to take every fight very seriously and you can’t underestimate anybody. I’ll go out there and leave everything in the ring. That’s what I intend to do.”
Alberto Palmetta
“I hope I can win some fans here in Minnesota. But I also want to congratulate Jamal James because I like the way that he supports his community. Boxing is not just about thinking about yourself, it’s also about thinking about others. That makes you a champion. I hope that after Saturday, Minnesota won’t be too mad at me.”
Elvis Rodríguez
“It’s going to be just like he said, somebody is getting knocked out. But I’m going to be the one knocking him out. I’m focused on this fight one hundred percent. But when I win this fight, I want the winner of the main event. It’s going to be hard rock in Minnesota on Saturday night. Elvis is in the building!”
Joseph Adorno
“He’s scared. He thinks I’m just a walkover and that’s not going to happen. I’m a 135-pounder but I came up to his weight just to prove that I can hang with the elites.”
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