BOXING for the first time without the IBF super-lightweight title strapped around his waist, Subriel Matias’ rebuilding job begins tonight in the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon. Matias’ title defence in June against Liam Paro was supposed to signal a glorious homecoming on the way to unification matches. Instead, Matias is now headlining in a non-title bounceback 10-rounder.

Matias’ 20-2 record, with all 20 wins by knockout, tells the story of his career. Most of the time, he is a beastly banger who grinds opponents down with constant cranking pressure. Smothering and suffocating until they can take no more. A string of quality, unbeaten operators all sampled the force and decided it wasn’t to their liking.

Subriel’s two defeats speak of a fighter who can struggle with motivation or focus, albeit in extenuating circumstances, given the nature of his first loss, which was later avenged. Whether he will get another chance at toppling Paro remains to be seen.

To clear the road back to world titles, Matias must first find a route past Ramirez, 26-3-1 (19), a Mexican known as ‘The Rifle’ who packs a punch but has shown past vulnerabilities. Despite signing with Matchroom Boxing, while Eddie Hearn and Co are off promoting Boots and Bam in Philadelphia, even DAZN’s attention is elsewhere, as Matias boxes on PPV.com.

Ramirez is on a three-fight winning streak but has not boxed in nearly a year. Matias will help punch any rust out of him early. William Zepeda thumped Ramirez in five rounds back in 2020, and he’s promised to bring a toe-to-toe war to Puerto Rico. Matias, 32, wouldn’t have it any other way.