Subriel Matias, the IBF junior welterweight titleholder, has plans to place his personal spin on boxing’s most well-known “no mas” second. The intimidating Matias, on the cusp of a homecoming struggle, believes “NoMastias” will make an look Saturday evening in his native Puerto Rico.
Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) will face Liam Paro (24-0, 15 KOs) on Saturday at Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Manati, Puerto Rico, and he’s predicting that his opponent would be the sixth in a row to undergo the identical destiny at his arms: an RTD.
Referencing the second immortalized when Roberto Duran turned away from Sugar Ray Leonard of their second struggle and uttered these two well-known phrases – “no mas” – Matias has implied that he’ll power Paro into turning into the most recent fighter he retires earlier than the ultimate bell.
“For this struggle, they count on ‘NoMastias,’” Matias stated. “We’re going to present the world that the actual warmth is in Puerto Rico.”
Matias has praised Paro, however he additionally issued an ominous warning, recalling one thing Paro stated that Matias did not recognize.
“Large fighter, however in some unspecified time in the future, he stated that the one factor good about me was that I used to be a loser,” Matias stated. “He must show that with info.”
Matias, 32, final fought in November, stopping Shohjahon Ergashev in six rounds. Since that struggle, he signed with Matchroom Boxing, which helped safe this homecoming struggle. Saturday’s occasion will probably be Matias’ debut with the promotion.
Paro, 28, final fought in December, knocking out Montana Love within the sixth spherical. This will probably be Paro’s first world title struggle.
“Anticipate NoMastias, quantity six in a row,” stated Matias.
Matias isn’t the primary fighter whose preventing persona has been imagined as an adaptation of Duran’s fateful phrase – that distinction belongs to three-division champion and present light-weight titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko, or “NoMasChenko.” And though the moniker fits Matias, who will probably be preventing once more in his homeland for the primary time since 2019, one can think about him being glad by notching a win of any variety on Saturday.
“Preventing in Puerto Rico as a world champion is sort of a dream,” he stated. “It is like waking up and being within the room with my spouse and my daughters. That is one thing particular, and I’m proud of God for all the pieces, which is a very powerful factor, and to proceed exhibiting that we belong at this stage.”
