Subriel Matías

Subriel Ahmed Matías Matthew (born March 31, 1992) is a Puerto Rican professional boxer who has held the IBF junior welterweight title since February 2023. As of February 2023, he is ranked as the world's fourth best active junior welterweight by The Ring and seventh by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.

Professional career

Early career

Matías made his professional debut against Juan Rojas on December 19, 2015. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Matías amassed an 8–0 record before taking the first step up of his career on August 18, 2018, as he faced British veteran Breidis Prescott. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. Prescott was twice knocked down in the third round, with a left hook and an uppercut, before retiring from the bout.

Matías faced the journeyman Wilberth López in a stay-busy fight on March 2, 2019. He won the fight by a sixth-round technical knockout. Matías would then face the undefeated Maxim Dadashev in an IBF junior welterweight title eliminator on July 19, 2019. Dadashev retired from the fight at the end of the eleventh round. He suffered a severe brain injury during the bout and passed away a few days later.

Matías faced Petros Ananyan on February 22, 2020, on the undercard of Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II. Despite entering the fight as a sizable favorite, he lost the fight by a close unanimous decision. Matías was staggered back to the ropes late in the seventh round, which referee Roberty Byrd ruled a knockdown. This proved to be the pivotal moment of the contest, as two of the judges scored the bout 95–94 for Ananyan, while the third judge gave his opponent a slightly wider scorecard of 96–93.

Rise up the ranks

Matías faced the undefeated Malik Hawkins on October 24, 2020. He won the fight by a seventh-round technical knockout. The contest was stopped a second into the round, on the advice of the ringside physician, who was previously called to check the injuries on Hawkins' face in the fifth round. All three judges had Matías up 59–54 at the time of the stoppage.

Matías faced Batyrzhan Jukembayev in an IBF junior welterweight title eliminator on May 29, 2021. Jukembayev retired from the fight at the end of the eighth round. Matías had knocked him down with a left hook in the fourth round and was up 77–74, 77–74 and 76–75 on the scorecards by the end of the final round.

Matías faced Petros Ananyan on January 22, 2022. The pair previously fought on February 22, 2020, when Ananyan was able to win by a narrow unanimous decision. He was unable to replicate his earlier success however, as he was forced to retire at the end of the tenth round, after he was knocked down with a left hook in the previous round. Matías was up 89–81 on two of the judges' scorecards at the time of the stoppage and 88–82 on the last one.

IBF junior welterweight champion

Matías vs. Ponce

On June 3, 2022, the IBF ordered Matías to face Jeremias Ponce for the interim IBF junior welterweight title. On July 7, the sanctioning body instead ordered the unified junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor to make a mandatory title defense against Ponce. Taylor refused the fight on August 24 and officially vacated the belt on that same day. The IBF immediately ordered a vacant championship bout between Matías and Ponce. Although the fight was scheduled to take place on October 15, on the undercard of the Deontay Wilder and Robert Helenius Fox Sports pay-per-view, it was postponed as Ponce was unable to secure a visa in time for the fight. The title bout was rescheduled for February 11, 2023, before being postponed to February 25. It took place at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota and headlined a Showtime broadcast card. Matías won the fight by a fifth-round stoppage, as Ponce's corner decided to retire their fighter at the end of the round. The newly crowned champion was up on the scorecards at the time, with all three judges having scored the bout 48–46 in his favor.

Matías vs. Ergashev

On June 16, 2023, it was reported that Matías would make a voluntary title defense against Sergey Lipinets. Twelve days later however, the IBF ordered Matías to make a mandatory defense against the undefeated Shohjahon Ergashev. As the two camps failed to reach an agreement within the allotted negotiation period, a purse bid was scheduled for August 15, although it was later postponed by a week as both sides requested an extension. The promotional rights were eventually won by Premier Boxing Champions, on behalf of Matis, with a bid of $510,000. The fight took place on November 25. Ergashev retired from the bout at the beginning of the sixth round, citing inability to compete due to a leg injury as the reason for his withdrawal from the fight.

Personal life

Matías was raised at Maternillo, a poor seaside fishing community of Fajardo. He received support from his mother, grandmother Viviana and people close to the family, such as father figure Julio de Jesús. Matías developed an early interest in motorcycling and he was gifted two, a Harley Davidson and a Vespa. He was involved in criminal activities during his youth, for which he was non-fatally shot on August 10, 2012 and served 19 months in prison. Afterwards, Matías took up boxing as a career and signed as a professional in 2015. He credits these experiences with giving him a strong mind, showing him how to deal with adversity and providing the time to find himself and faith. Matías is married to Yachari Benabe, and has three daughters.

Professional boxing record

See also

• List of world light-welterweight boxing champions
• List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions
• Sports in Puerto Rico
• Afro–Puerto Ricans