Jeremias Ponce plans to display intelligence and versatility versus Subriel Matias on Saturday night.
The unbeaten Argentinean contender also expects to knock out a favored fighter who is known primarily for his power in their 12-round, 140-pound championship match. Each of Matias’ 18 professional wins have come by knockout, but the undefeated Ponce predicted that his dangerous Puerto Rican opponent will learn what it’s like to lose inside the distance when they square off in a “Showtime Championship Boxing” main event Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis.
“I do agree that the fight isn’t gonna reach the final bell,” Ponce told BoxingScene.com through a translator. “It’s gonna end by a knockout. But you know what I think the most? I’m gonna be the winner by knockout.”
Ponce prefaced his proclamation by praising Matias (18-1, 18 KOs), the IBF’s second-ranked challenger for its vacant junior welterweight title.
“Subriel is a great fighter,” Ponce said, “someone that always comes out swinging, ready to fight, has a lot of heart. I really admire that from him.”
The 30-year-old Matias has lost only a 10-round unanimous decision to Petros Ananyan in February 2020 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Matias avenged that defeat when he dropped Armenia’s Ananyan (17-3-2, 8 KOs) in the ninth round and stopped him prior to the 10th round of their rematch in January 2022 at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Matias, who is listed as a 4-1 favorite, hasn’t boxed since his win against Ananyan 13 months ago. Buenos Aires’ Ponce will end a 10-month layoff of his own when he meets Matias for the IBF belt former undisputed 140-pound champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) gave up late last August.
Ponce (30-0, 20 KOs) was the mandatory challenger for one of Taylor’s four titles. The IBF eventually ordered him to fight Matias, first for its interim title and then for its permanent championship.
“It’s gonna be a high-voltage affair,” Ponce said. “The fans are gonna love it. I expect both of us to come out there, you know, with our heads up high, trying to be aggressive, and everyone’s gonna love what they see.”
Before Ponce and Matias box in Showtime’s main event Saturday night, Jamal James (27-2, 12 KOs), a former WBA world welterweight champ from Minneapolis, will square off against Argentina’s Alberto Palmetta (18-1, 13 KOs) in the network’s 10-round co-feature. In the 10-round, 140-pound opener of this telecast, Dominican southpaw Elvis Rodriguez (13-1-1, 12 KOs) will face Joseph Adorno (17-1-2, 14 KOs), of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Showtime’s three-bout broadcast is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing