Regis Prograis now has company among fighters likely to be avoided in the talent-laden 140-pound division.
Subriel Matias became Puerto Rico’s third active titlist following a stoppage win of Argentina’s Jeremias Ponce after five rounds in their vacant IBF junior welterweight title fight. The fiercely contested battle saw Matias drop Ponce (30-1, 20KOs) late in round five, with the fight stopped in the corner prior to the start of round six in their Showtime-televised main event from The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Among those to offer immediate praise toward Matias (19-1, 19KOs) was the reigning WBC 140-pound king himself.
“Congratulations champ,” Prograis stated moments after Matias’ title win. “Hope to see you one day.”
The feat comes three months almost to the day of Prograis (28-1, 24KOs) becoming a two-time junior welterweight title claimant. The 34-year-old bruiser from Houston by way of New Orleans picked up the vacant WBC strap following an eleventh-round knockout of Jose Zepeda last November 26 in Carson, California.
Prograis previously held the WBA title which he lost to Scotland’s Josh Taylor via majority decision in their October 2019 WBA/IBF unification bout and World Boxing Super Series 140-pound tournament final. Four wins have followed, though it was just as difficult to find opponents on the way to the title as it has been now that he holds a strap.
Matias is very likely to run into the same issue.
The 30-year-old from Fajardo, Puerto Rico due to face Ponce for the vacant IBF last fall, only for a visa issue endured by his opponent along with other unforeseen circumstances resulting in a canceled fight and a lengthy ring absence. The belt became available when Taylor vacated in lieu of honoring an ordered mandatory title defense versus Matias, who waited nearly two months for the process to play out before landing a vacant title fight.
Saturday’s win ended a 13-month ring absence, which included nine months’ worth of stops and restarts during training camp in Mexico. The goal now is to remain as active as possible and to face anyone brave enough willing to share the ring.
Needless to say, Prograis’ callout certainly has the Boricua’s undivided attention.
“Regis Prograis, now it’s your turn,” Matias emphatically stated. “I am the new world champion, and I promise you that I will hurt you. Prograis likes to talk a lot about how he hurts his opponents, but I have that same mentality.
“We’ll see who prevails, but I want him to know that there are crazier people in this sport.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox