Promoter Eddie Hearn is excited about signing IBF light welterweight champion Subriel Matias to his Matchroom stable. Hearn says everyone is coming up to him since he inked the knockout artist Matias (20-1, 20 KOs), telling him how dangerous he is.
(Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom)
Matias told Hearn earlier today that he wants to “destroy” former WBC 140-lb champion Regis Prograis next, and he also wants WBO champ Teofimo Lopez.
The way Teofimo looked in his last fight against Jamaine Prograis, his promoters at Top Rank likely won’t agree to match him against Matias. It would be too risky for Teo, and Top Rank has got to protect their investment.
“It’s Over for Teofimo Lopez”
“He came up to me and said, ‘Regis Prograis, let me destroy him.’ I said, ‘Okay, he’s not going to be next;” said promoter Eddie Hearn to DAZN Boxing about his discussion with IBF light welterweight champion Subriel Matias today.
“He said also, ‘Teofimo Lopez, it’s over for him.’ The amount of people that have come up to me and go, ‘You do know, he’s [Matias] that guy.’ Gabe [Rosado] came up to me, ‘You do know, that kid is a bad dude. He can destroy people. He’s really good.'”
The excuses Teofimo makes for not fighting Matias are pretty clear: he will never fight him. It’s one of those fights that won’t happen due to the star, Teofimo, having too much to lose.
“I’m not saying he’s Tito Trinidad, but you’ve got to be in those fights to prove that you’re the next Tito Trinidad. But in terms of captivating the country with a fighter that actually has a chance to beat those guys, I think we can get some great momentum.
The Power of a Title
“As a promoter, I have no problem putting him in with all of them and thinking he can come out the other side. Everyone should stay away from Subriel Matias, but because he has a belt, at least it gives us the leverage. Could you imagine if he didn’t have a belt?” said Hearn.
“Everyone would go, ‘No, no, no.’ It’s the famous excuse. I’ve used it a million times. ‘Who is Subriel Matias? No one has ever heard of him? What’s the reward of fighting him?’ Well, the reward now is a world championship belt,” said Hearn.
Hopefully, Hearn can find opponents for Matias to fight because he’s got a lot of potential, but one gets the sense he could be avoided.