By Jim Calfa: IBF light welterweight champion Subriel Matias will defend against #3 Shohjahon Ergashev (23-0, 20 KOs) on the undercard of the David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade card on Showtime PPV on November 25th.
Thus far, the card is shaping up nicely, and this fight makes it even better. If reports are accurate of Showtime’s exciting boxing after next year, they’re going out with a bang.
Benavidez-Andrade is an excellent fight, and for hardcore boxing fans familiar with Ergashev & Matias, this is a superb match-up as well.
Matias (19-1, 19 KOs) is a huge puncher with a high work rate and has a four-fight knockout streak going. If the main event fails to meet the billing, Matias-Egashev could make up the difference.
The Benavidez-Andrade card is expected to have Jermall Charlo vs. Jose Benavidez Jr. inserted into the co-feature spot. If that fight doesn’t materialize, Matias vs. Ergashev will likely take that spot.
Matias is one of those fighters that is avoided by the top guys in the 140-lb division, and if he looks good beating Ergashev, it will continue to beat that way.
If Matias struggles to beat Ergashev, it might be in his best interest because some of the reluctant bigger names in the light welterweight division might show interest in fighting him. We’re talking about Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez.
Shohjahon Ergashev’s best wins:
Angel Martinez Hernandez
Adrian Estrella
Luis Alberto Veron
Mykal Fox
Sonny Fredrickson
If the southpaw Uzbek native Ergashev’s accuracy is on point with his vicious left hands, he’s got a shot at knocking out Matias, who isn’t exactly hard to hit. However, Ergashev (23-0, 20 KOs) seems to have problems landing his shots, even when his opponents are standing directly in front of him at point-blank range.
ESPN reports the news of the Matias-Ergashev fight being included with the card next month from the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
Both fighters are the same age at 31, have weak resumes, but have huge power. Matias’ superior gives him an advantage in this fight, but he’s been beaten before, though, by Petros Ananyan by a 12-round unanimous decision in 2020.
In their rematch two years later, Matias avenged his loss to Ananyan, stopping him in the ninth round in January 2022. Matias dropped Ananyan in the eighth round with a left hand and was ahead on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
Subriel Matias’ recent victories
Jeremias Ponce
Petros Ananyan
Batyrzhan Jukembayev
Malik Hawkins
Jonathan Eniz
