Former IBF Light Welterweight Champion Subriel Matías (21-2, 2 costs) fights #4-selected Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (30-3, 17 COs) in a title Eliminator for that 12-round main event this Saturday, March 1, at Coliseo Tomas Dons, Fareno, Puerto Rico. The event will be shown directly on Dazn at 7 p.m.
Path to Hitchins
The winner of Saturday’s battle between #3 IBF-selected Matias and Valenzuela is the compulsory for the IBF champion of the IBF pound, Richardson Hitchins. However, it is unclear how soon they will challenge him for his belt, as his promoter, Eddie Hearn, is interested in suiting him against Theofimo Lopez or George Kambosos Jr..
Matias, 32, is fighting for the second time since he lost his IBF belt to Liam Paro in a 12-round decision of the unanimous decision last year. The battle showed that Matias should come into the mud with fighters using rough home tactics, such as pushing, rabbit punch and wrestling, as we saw in this attack.
Subriel, who played it well, led him to lose his IBF belt to paro in a fight he could have won if he were to use the same tricks. He kept looking at the referee to enforce the rules, but that didn’t happen. It was a good lesson for Matias.
Undercard fights:
– Alfredo Santiago against Javier Fortuna
– Nestor Bravo vs. Incongge Nasela
– Pryce Taylor vs. Trevor Qatara
In the co-function, the light welterweight Alfredo Santiago (16-2, 7 COs) stands in front of former WBA Super Featherweight Champion Javier Fortuna (39-5-1, 28 COs) in a 10 round. Fortuna, 35, is a well-known veteran who has had an up and down career since the loss of his WBA belt in 2016. He has since suffered losses to Robert Easter Jr., Joseph Diaz, Ryan Garcia and Robbie Davies Jr. Fortuna does not have the power and size to fight at his age at 147. He is just the opponent of the B-side for this fight.
“I’m happy to be part of this title elimination fight. When I lost the title, I gave no excuses, ”Subriel Matias said of his loss of Liam Paro. “I promised myself that I would recycle the title and bring it back to my hometown. I respect my opponent, but I understand the great rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico.
“People saw me fall and rise again. If you followed my life, you would know that a fighter wasn’t in the stars for me. I thought I would be dead or in jail for a long time. I had the opportunity to turn my injustices into law. “
If you are fighting in Puerto Rico, you should join some Sabor Latino 🎶 🏝 🏝 (#Matiasvalenzuela | Live tomorrow on dazn pic.twitter.com/5xgpfnrixv
– Dazn Boxing (@daznboxing) February 28, 2025
Last updated on 02/28/2025
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