Subriel Matías has spent most of his career as relatively unknown feared accumulation puncher. He is so feared that he now has mirrored Lomachenko’s feat of four straight corner stoppages and beyond that has five bouts needed by his opponent’s corner in his last six fights. As a fifth-round knockdown of Ponce by Matias saw the round end, but Ponce’s corner refuse to let him answer the bell for the sixth round.
Despite Jeremias Ponce starting fast, pushing Matais back, and more than likely being up at the time of the stoppage, Matias was undeterred. Matias was landing to the body, and much sharper on defense than I think most would’ve thought.
“We worked really hard [for] 10 months, really hard in the gym. I came here to win,” Matias said via a translator.
The win now makes Subriel Matías the IBF super lightweight (140 lbs) world champion, as the title was vacant given the fact that Josh Taylor, the undisputed champion, had been stripped by the sanctioning body due to inactivity.
“My corner knows me better than me,” Ponce said. “It’s better to take precaution a minute too early than a minute too late, but I wanted to continue.”
The undercard saw local favorite welterweight Jamal James get a ten-round unanimous decision over 2016 Olympian Alberto Palmetta, and opening the card we saw super lightweight Elvis Rodriguez tested greatly against former 130 lbs prospect Joseph Adorno, as a knockdown was the difference in the fight. Rodriguez won by majority decision.
“My team keeps me focused during setbacks. We know that we just have to stay focused and eventually the opportunities are gonna come. If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready,” said Jamal James prior to the fight. “I know that a lot of eyes will be on me coming off my last fight, but I love the pressure and I deal with it great. It makes me a better fighter. Instead of talking too much about it, I’m just going to show you on February 25.”
