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Subriel Matias Training Camp Quotes
Hard-hitting KO artist Subriel Matías plans to kick start a
big year for his native Puerto Rico when he faces unbeaten
Jeremias Ponce for the vacant IBF 140-pound world title this
Saturday, February 25 headlining live on SHOWTIME from The
Armory in Minneapolis in a Premier Boxing Champions event.
“I represent both my country of Puerto Rico and my city of
Fajardo each time I step into the ring,” said Matías. “When
I win on February 25, it will only be the beginning of a
glorious year for Puerto Rican sports. Not only will I be
world champion, but hopefully we’ll win the World Baseball
Classic so we can all rejoice.”
To put himself in position to fight for the world title,
Matías has put together three of the best performances of
his career following a decision loss to Petro Ananyan in
February 2020. Matías bounced back by stopping two
previously unbeaten fighters, Malik Hawkins and Batyrzhan
Jukembayev, to set up a rematch with Ananyan. Matías was
able to drop and stop Ananyan in the ninth-round of that
fight and set up this showdown with Ponce. Argentina’s Ponce
will enter the fight as the underdog, but for Matías, he
sees that his opponent holds similar attributes to one of
Ponce’s countrymen.
“Ponce is tough and he possesses a unique style,” said
Matías. “I would compare him to Marcos Maidana, who’s
shocked the boxing world plenty of times. I don’t see a lot
of people similar to him in boxing nowadays. Ponce is a
great fighter, and I respect both him and Argentina. But my
goal is to not let this fight go the distance.”
In preparing for his first world title opportunity, Matías
took up camp in the remote Jiquipilco, Mexico, which is
located two hours outside of Mexico City, and has stayed
there for over 10 months as he nears a potentially
life-changing fight.
“Being in this location has helped me find the peace and
focus that I needed to be ready for this fight,” said Matias.
“I’ve had great sparring that’s helped me prepare for a lot
of different styles and I’ve been running six times a week.”
Although the 30-year-old has thrived in training, he admits
that amongst everything that could be coming, he most looks
forward to reuniting with his family after February 25.
“My youngest daughter was born a week after my last fight,
so I was only able to be with her for three months,” said
Matías. “We keep in touch constantly, but the first thing
I’m going to do after the fight is spend time with my three
daughters. I’m blessed to have three beautiful princesses
that fill my heart, and it’s my duty to take care of them.”
After expressing his respect for his unbeaten opponent,
Matías made clear that his sights are set squarely on one of
the division’s big names, as he hopes to go right after WBC
140-pound world champion Regis Prograis with a win on
February 25.
“When I finish this fight with my arm raised high I’ll have
only one name in mind: Regis Prograis,” said Matías.
“Prograis thinks that he’s the only character in boxing, and
I respect him a lot. But I want to show him that there are
people in this world that can be even crazier than he is.”
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