Subriel Matias Faces A Fight That Tests His Reliability

1 2 minutes read

The pressure is already on Subriel Matias before the opening bell.
The importance of the battle to who wins is less important than what it asserts about Matthias’s reliability at this point.

On Saturday night at Barclays Center, Mathias made the first defense of his WBC junior welterweight title against unbeaten English contender Dalton Smith, and the fight exists less out of momentum than commitment. Negotiations stalled, and the bout was sent to a money bid, where Fresh Productions, Mathias’ promoter, won with a bid of $1.9 million. This was not a battle that grew normally. He was forced to put it in his place.

It almost collapsed again in November when Mathias presented a negative analytical result for Ostarine in a VADA test. Regulators ruled the levels below the threshold. The New York Commission and the World Boxing Council allowed the fight to continue. Officially clearing it does not mean forgetting it. Followed by a check into the ring.

Mathias enters at 23 and 2 with 22 knockouts. He was ranked second by The Ring at 140 pounds. He won the WBC title by majority decision over Alberto Puello in July. This was the first decision win of his career and the first time his pressure did not completely break down the opponent. Before that, he held the IBF belt and lost it to Liam Barrow in June 2024. The areola is now cracked. Not great. But visible.

Smith is 18 and 0 with 13 knockouts and is ranked seventh in The Ring. He made a clear decision on Mathieu Germain, scoring three knockdowns. He is disciplined. He is an author. He’s not being dragged into the kind of fight Matthias demands. This is the test.

There is no mystery about how Matthias will try to win. He presses. It’s the crowds. He throws until the other man stops responding. If he wins here, it will be because Smith is forced back for long periods and forced to work every second. Mathias cannot afford the late sluggishness he showed against Puello. If his pace drops again, Smith has the structure to survive.

The odds put Matthias as the favorite at 160. This number reflects reputation more than certainty.

If Matthias wins, the division will be opened again. The fight with interim WBC titleholder Isaac Cruz will be brutal and unresolved by design. A union with IBF champion Richardson Hitchens would be even colder and riskier.

At 33 years old, Matthias doesn’t have time to get carried away. He needs results that close the doors behind him.

The card airs on PPV dot com starting at 8 PM ET for $54 and 99 cents.

If Mattias cannot impose himself here, it will be a clear signal that pressure alone is no longer enough.

Robert Segal He has been a key voice at Boxing News 24 for over a decade, providing fight news, previews and analysis with a live insider feature. His work highlights champions, contenders and rising talent from around the world, providing readers with a clear understanding of each fighter’s place in the changing sporting landscape. Known for his keen in-ring perspective and straightforward reporting style, Robert always brings fans closer to the action with knowledgeable and laid-back coverage.

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