Subriel Matias has said that his world title fight has been postponed. He had been ordered to face Jeremias Ponce, but provided an update on social media.
Matias, 30, had been set to meet Ponce for the vacant IBF super-lightweight world title. Rumours were swirling that the fight would be confirmed for October 15, but it was never formally announced. It now seems to have been cancelled for the time being.
Matias, from Puerto Rico, was picked to vie for the vacant belt after it was relinquished by former undisputed champion Josh Taylor. He has a record of 18-1 and all of his wins have come inside the distance.
Taylor held the WBA Super, IBF, WBC and WBO titles at the weight, as well as the Ring Magazine belt, but has given up the first three in that list in order to chase up a rematch with Jack Catterall.
Matias’ social media post was not written in English, but the translation is as follows:
“I want to report that I will not be fighting on October 15 due to visa issues (with Ponce).
“I will now continue training; it is out of my hands.”
Ponce, who is known to British fans for his victory over former British lightweight champion Lewis Ritson, has a record of 30-0 with 20 quick and was ruled out of the fight after reportedly not being able to secure a visa in time to go through with the fight date.
Rumours were it was set to land on a Fox Sports Pay-Per-View undercard, headlined by the return of former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder as he takes on Robert Helenius at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Matias’ last outing saw him scoring a ninth-round stoppage of Petros Ananyan on January 22 in Atlantic City. The win was significant in avenging his lone career defeat when he dropped a ten-round decision in their February 2020 clash in Las Vegas, having since entered a current three-fight win streak.
Ponce has fought and won twice since becoming the IBF number-one contender at junior welterweight, earning a pair of early knockout wins in Hamburg, Germany.
It remains to be seen exactly where or when this fight will take place.