Fighter of the Week (11/20-11/26) : Subriel Matias
On the first of five consecutive big fight weeks in a row, we were not disappointed. Fight fans got star-making performances, world-class, revenge fights, and lifelong goals accomplished in a loaded week of boxing. However, a 140-pound Puerto Rican star captured the weeks best performance. Subriel Matias of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, put forth another noteworthy performance. The 31-year-old finally seems to be hitting his peak and full potential. His latest beatdown of undefeated Uzbek contender Shohjahon Ergashev was particularly eye-catching as the Puerto Rican moved his record to 20-1 (20), picked up his fifth straight win made his first world title defense a successful one, got people wondering if Devin Haney is ducking smoke and takes home our Fighter of the Week award.
Matias vs Ergashev was a hotly debated fight before the bell rang, the KO artist was going to end the fight early. Once the fight got cooking, that question was answered rather quickly Ergashev landed a southpaw straight left to the body of Matias that drove him backward in the opening round. However, it served as little more than a wake-up call as Matias smiled at the Uzbek and got going in the second. As Ergashev stayed ultra-aggressive, Matias was able to block the fireworks and land meaningful shots on the inside as he marched forward through the artillery of his opponent.
The fight completely changed in Round Three. A calm and in control, Matias continued to work his way inside and began to overwhelm his outgunned man. Mixing up head and body shots, the momentum was noticeably shifting. Ergashev tried to fight back and remained game throughout, but the writing was on the wall in the final few rounds. It became obvious by the fifth, but he didn’t have the tools to keep the World Champion slugger away, and his defense and game plan became simply trying to clinch and hold on. Ergashev didn’t come out of his corner for the start of Round 6, complaining of a leg injury. Matias has now won all of 20 of his victories by way of stoppage, 20 for 20. He has also now forced five consecutive opponents to retire in their corners.
Matias was often overlooked when boxing pundits and the boxing Twittersphere would discuss who was boxing the next Puerto Rican superstar. The often quiet and soft-spoken KO artist was usually far down the list, however, he has put the world on notice and should be getting big-time super fights in the near future. Fights with Tank Davis, Progrias- Haney winner, or Gary Antunnne Russell. With the right matchmaking, the Boricua could not only find himself in big-time, big-money fights in 2024 he could make a serious run at Fighter of the Year and be that next superstar from his historic island.
