The 140lb division is one of boxing’s hottest at the moment, and a big super-lightweight title defence courtesy of Subriel Matias is set to take place in either June or July on DAZN.
Super-lightweight has seen evenly matched champions well poised for mammoth unification bouts and a litter of high-profile names seeking the chance to interfere with those plans.
Subriel Matias is one who has proven himself to be both a worthy and exciting title-holder, boasting an impressive 20 knockouts on his 20-1 record, with the lone blemish on his résumé coming in 2020, before avenging the loss to Petros Ananyan two years later.
The Puerto Rican is now being linked to fights against the likes of Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, but Matias has now confirmed that he will first defend his IBF crown against unbeaten Australian, Liam Paro (24-0) on DAZN, in an interview with Elnuevodia.com.
“He (Paro) is brave and has his boxing. It stops. He is left-handed and he is strong. We have to see if he has the same cojones as me. I like it and that’s what the fan wants to see, because no one wants to see two people running through the ring.”
The event will take place in Matias’ home country, as he returns to headline in Puerto Rico for the first time since becoming champion.
“The title makes it possible for things to go in my favour. Everyone wants to be a champion and few can, they have to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
“I would’ve done the same thing. In fact, we did it. So I understand the hunger that Liam Paro has of wanting to come to my house to take away what has cost me so much, because the title hasn’t been given to me.”
This will be Matias’ third defence of the IBF title and will tee him up for a mega-fight at the end of the year, should he be successful against Paro.