Subriel Matias’ second chance at a world title comes in a common proving ground for many Puerto Rican boxers.
Matias will fight in New York for the first time in his career
when he faces undefeated WBC junior welterweight champion Alberto Puello of the Dominican Republic on
The Ring’s pay-per-view card on July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens. The Fajardo, Puerto Rico, native has won two straight fights by stoppage since losing his IBF junior welterweight title to Liam Paro last June.
How much Matias (22-2, 22 KOs) has improved since that loss will likely determine what chance he has at pulling out the victory over
Puello (24-0, 10 KOs), a southpaw who can move similar to Paro. With Matias’ 100% finishing rate and Puello’s knack for winning close fights by sticking,moving and countering his opponents, their bout is every bit as intriguing as the rest of the card.
Last fight: Stopped
Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela in the eighth round at Coliseo Tomas Dones in Fajardo on March 1.
Odds: Matias is a narrow favorite at minus-125 vs Puello (minus-105), according to DraftKings.
How does Matias win? It’s no secret what he has to do to become a two-time champion at junior welterweight.
Matias will need to use his patent pressure and volume to try and slow down Puello. The left hook to the head and body is going to be a key weapon for Matias, as that can stop Puello from trying to get out of range and slow him down later in the fight.
Investing in the body will also be important for Matias. Sandor Martin connected with 86 punches to the body against Puello. If Matias, who is a much bigger puncher than Martin, can make a similar investment, he could be well-positioned to take over late.
What it means if he wins: Matias becomes a two-time champion and bigger fights could be on the horizon. Even more so, an impressive victory could be a coming-out party for Matias in the same state where Puerto Rican legends Felix Trinidad and Miguel Cotto landed some of their most impressive victories.
What they’re saying: “To create real Puerto Rican stars, you need to connect them to the New York City community. That's what we want to do with Subriel Matias, and this fight is a significant fight against the champion in a unique venue is really what he needs to propel his career to the next level. We are very excited about that opportunity for Subriel Matias.” - Dmitry Salita, Matias’ co-promoter.
TV/Stream: DAZN Pay-Per-View; $59.99 in the U.S. (6 p.m. ET); £24.99 in the UK (11 p.m. BST).