Subriel Matias will face Liam Paro in June in Puerto Rico.
IBF super lightweight champion Matias recently made the switch from PBC to Matchroom, and he will make his Matchroom debut against Paro, who is coming off a destructive knockout of countryman Brock Jarvis in 2022 and a six-round stoppage of Montana Love in December.
Paro (24-0, 15 KOs), of Australia, was the frontrunner to face Matias, but talks reportedly stalled and other options were explored. Paro ultimately came back to the table.
“Yes, after several attempts with several opponents, yes, he is Subriel’s opponent,” confirmed Matias’ manager, Pedro Cruz. “He will be fighting Subriel in June in Puerto Rico.”
Matias is a hot property after winning five straight since his lone career loss, to Petros Anayan in 2020 – a defeat Matias avenged in 2022.
Matias, 31, captured the IBF title by stopping Jeremias Ponce (then 30-0) in five rounds. Last time out, he bested Shohjahon Ergashev (then 23-0), forcing his retirement in six rounds.
Cruz said his fighter is already shaping up for Paro, a southpaw challenger he rates highly.
“Very good fighter, excellent fighter,” Cruz said of Paro. “But Subriel is already quartered in Mexico preparing for Liam Paro.”
After Matias signed with Matchroom, the promoter made it clear it wanted an immediate homecoming fight for Matias. Several names were initially in the mix, and although Paro received the nod, Matchroom still has designs on the other big names at 140 pounds – where Matchroom’s Devin Haney holds the WBC title, Rolando Romero owns the WBA belt and Teofimo Lopez wears the WBO crown.
“There was Elvis Rodriguez, Michel Rivera, there was Steve Claggett, there was Gabriel Valenzuela and Liam Paro,” Cruz said. “And [Matchroom] chose Liam Paro.
“It is a voluntary defense. That’s why Liam Paro was chosen, but we are ready to fight any of the elites. We just need to be given the opportunity.”