IBF light welterweight champion Subriel Matias posted on social media today, letting followers know he wants to defend his title next in his home country in front of his fans in Puerto Rico. He’s expected to face unbeaten Liam Paro next.
Subriel Matías Longs for Home Fight
“How much I would give to fight again in front of my people,” Matias said on Instagram.
Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) will get his wish to fight at home in Puerto, considering it’s already in the works for him to fight there in June or July in one of three cities.
It won’t be against WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez, though, because he already fought last Thursday against Jamaine Ortiz, and he’s expected to rest for a while.
Teofimo wants Terence Crawford or the winner of next month’s fight between WBA champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.
Liam Paro Cracks IBF Top 10
The 27-year-old Matchroom Boxing promoted southpaw Paro (24-0, 15 KOs) has been installed at #7 in the IBF’s rankings, which paves the way for a world title shot against Matias’ IBF 140-lb title this summer in June or July.
Paro destroyed Eddie Hearn fighter Montana Love by a sixth-round knockout last December on the undercard of the Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis card at the Chase Center in San Franciso, California.
In the sixth round, Paro knocked Love down twice before the fight was waved off. It had to have been tough for Hearn to watch what Paro did to Love, seeing that this was a guy whose career was looking promising up until 2023.
In consecutive fights, Love had beaten Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela, Carlos Diaz, and Ivan Baranchyk. He had world champion written all over him until he met up with Steve Spark, and things have gone downhill since.
Home Field Advantage
If the Matias-Para fight gets made, Matias will have home country advantage, and that could play a factor in the outcome. Matias fights with a lot of motivation anyway, but being at home could give him even more energy.
Matias is coming off a sixth-round knockout win over previously unbeaten #1 IBFShohjahon Ergashev last November in Las Vegas. That fight cemented in the eyes of many boxing fans that Matias is the best fighter in the light welterweight division.