Matchroom Boxing Close to Finalising Unbeaten Opponent for Subriel Matias

Dan Rafael has reported via his Fight Freaks Unite Substack that sources with knowledge of the plans have told him that Matchroom Boxing are close to finalising a fight between IBF junior welterweight titleholder Subriel Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) and Liam Paro (24-0, 15 KOs).

Subriel Matias Next Fight: Matchroom Close to Finalising

Subriel Matias vs. Liam Paro

Matias, the big punching Puerto Rican who is co-promoted by Juan Orengo of Fresh Productions, signed a co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing in February, with the plan of having his second title defence in his native Puerto Rico. It’s now become apparent that this defence looks set to be against the impressive Australian Paro.

According to the report from Rafael, the original plan was for Paro to be the opponent for Matias, but terms could not be agreed, despite both being with Matchroom. It now appears the issue was “figured out,” as per the source.

The Fajardo native left PBC last year, before rejecting an offer from Top Rank to join the Matchroom stable. The Puerto Rican fighter won the IBF crown when he impressively stopped Jeremias Ponce in February 2023, then made his first defence against then-unbeaten Shohjahon Ergashev, who he stopped in round six.

The Queensland native southpaw fought just once in 2022, with a first-round destruction of then-unbeaten countryman Brock Jarvis. 2023 saw similar inactivity, with Paro fighting just once, stopping Montana Love in December.

Prediction

If finalised, this will be an intriguing bout with both fighters possessing plenty of knockout power. When Matias joined Matchroom, Eddie Hearn addressed the signing via his X account: “This is a huge signing. Welcome to the team Subriel Matias one bad bad man!”

It is an accurate description of the Puerto Rican, who throws every punch with venom and showed his power in the Ponce fight when he overcame a difficult start to brutally take apart his opponent with thudding venomous hooks, which led to Ponce not coming out for the sixth round.

Paro also carries plenty of power and uses his jab well while varying his attacks. His stoppage wins against Love, and Jarvis shows he is a good finisher and doesn’t let his opponents off the hook. At Big Fight Weekend, we are predicting a war, with Matias winning the shootout, stopping Paro between rounds six to nine.