Subriel Matías

Matías made his professional debut against Juan Rojas on December 19, 2015. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. Matías amassed an 8–0 record before taking the first step up of his career on August 18, 2018, as he faced British veteran Breidis Prescott.[4][5] He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. Prescott was twice knocked down in the third round, with a left hook and an uppercut, before retiring from the bout.[6]

Matías faced the journeyman Wilberth López in a stay-busy fight on March 2, 2019. He won the fight by a sixth-round technical knockout.[7] Matías would then face the undefeated Maxim Dadashev in an IBF junior welterweight title eliminator on July 19, 2019.[8] Dadashev retired from the fight at the end of the eleventh round. He suffered a severe brain injury during the bout and passed away a few days later.[9]

Matías faced Petros Ananyan on February 22, 2020, on the undercard of Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II. Despite entering the fight as a sizable favorite, he lost the fight by a close unanimous decision. Matías was staggered back to the ropes late in the seventh round, which referee Roberty Byrd ruled a knockdown. This proved to be the pivotal moment of the contest, as two of the judges scored the bout 95–94 for Ananyan, while the third judge gave his opponent a slightly wider scorecard of 96–93.[10]

Matías faced the undefeated Malik Hawkins on October 24, 2020. He won the fight by a seventh-round technical knockout. The contest was stopped a second into the round, on the advice of the ringside physician, who was previously called to check the injuries on Hawkins' face in the fifth round. All three judges had Matías up 59–54 at the time of the stoppage.[11]

Matías faced Batyrzhan Jukembayev in an IBF junior welterweight title eliminator on May 29, 2021. Jukembayev retired from the fight at the end of the eighth round. Matías had knocked him down with a left hook in the fourth round and was up 77–74, 77–74 and 76–75 on the scorecards by the end of the final round.[12]

Matías faced Petros Ananyan on January 22, 2022. The pair previously fought on February 22, 2020, when Ananyan was able to win by a narrow unanimous decision. He was unable to replicate his earlier success however, as he was forced to retire at the end of the tenth round, after he was knocked down with a left hook in the previous round. Matías was up 89–81 on two of the judges' scorecards at the time of the stoppage and 88–82 on the last one.[13][14]

On June 3, 2022, the IBF ordered Matías to face Jeremias Ponce for the interim IBF junior welterweight title.[15] On July 7, the sanctioning body instead ordered the unified junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor to make a mandatory title defense against Ponce.[16] Taylor refused the fight on August 24 and officially vacated the belt on that same day. The IBF immediately ordered a vacant championship bout between Matías and Ponce.[17] Although the fight was scheduled to take place on October 15, on the undercard of the Deontay Wilder and Robert Helenius Fox Sports pay-per-view, it was postponed as Ponce was unable to secure a visa in time for the fight.[18] The title bout was rescheduled for February 11, 2023,[19] before being postponed to February 25. It took place at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota and headlined a Showtime broadcast card.[20] Matías won the fight by a fifth-round stoppage, as Ponce's corner decided to retire their fighter at the end of the round. The newly crowned champion was up on the scorecards at the time, with all three judges having scored the bout 48–46 in his favor.[21]

On June 16, 2023, it was reported that Matías would make a voluntary title defense against Sergey Lipinets.[22] Twelve days later however, the IBF ordered Matías to make a mandatory defense against the undefeated Shohjahon Ergashev.[23] As the two camps failed to reach an agreement within the allotted negotiation period, a purse bid was scheduled for August 15,[24] although it was later postponed by a week as both sides requested an extension.[25] The promotional rights were eventually won by Premier Boxing Champions, on behalf of Matis, with a bid of $510,000.[26] The fight is scheduled to take place on November 25.[27]