The IBF has ordered a February 2 purse bid between #3 Subriel Matias and #4 Gabriel Valenzuela for a 140-lb title eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger for light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins.
Lance Pugmire reports that the Matias vs. Valenzuela purse bid was ordered to determine the #1 challenger for Hitchins.
Matias Title shot
Subriel (32) is not popular enough for him to be selected by Hitchins for a voluntary defence. So, Matias has to go the mandatory route by beating the slugger Valenzuela to force a fight. It makes sense. No champion at 140 would willingly face a KO artist like Matias. We saw this recently with WBO champion Teofimo Lopez when he balked at the idea of facing Matias.
Former IBF champion Matias (21-2, 21 KOs) lost his title to Liam Paro last year, losing a 12-round unanimous decision on June 15 in Manati, Puerto Rico. Matias, who is seen by many boxing fans as the boogeyman of the 140-lb division, knocked out Roberto Ramirez in the second round on November 9th.
Teofimo recently turned down what was said to be a career-high payday to defend his WBO light welterweight title against Subriel Matias. He said he didn’t want to fight Matias because Top Rank wanted to put the match on the West Coast rather than New York, where he felt it would do better.
Lopez also said he doesn’t like Top Rank wanting to fight Matias on PPV. Fans believe Teofimo didn’t have the confidence to take the fight, knowing that Matias hits hard and is a pressure fighter who can beat him and ruin his career as it is.
Valenzuela (30-3-1, 17 KOs) is riding a five-fight winning streak since losing to Montana Love via a 12-round unanimous decision on May 7, 2022. His wins since then have come against low-level opposition.
Richardson (19-0, 7 KOs) could next face WBO 140-lb champion Teofimo Lopez in a unification bout on one of Turki Al-Sheikh’s cards if Teo chooses to take it. If not, there is the possibility that George Kambosos Jr. Hitchins for his IBF belt will challenge.
