Boxing
Liam Paro ready to test Subriel Matias’ frail spots in 140-pound title fight
Liam Paro. Photo courtesy of Matchroom Boxing
Subriel Matias has a lot to offer.
The 32-year-old Puerto Rican powerhouse buckled, pounded and pounded his way to the IBF 140-pound title, earning 20 long-range scalps in his 21-fight professional career.
The one blemish on his book? A close points defeat to Petros Ananyan after going off the canvas in the seventh round on the card of the rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder in 2020. A rematch two years later? A nine-round defeat of the only opponent to ever defeat him.
That’s why Matias was called the most threatening man in boxing.
Most people run away from danger. A few run towards him.
Liam Paro is one of their peers.
“I’m excited about it,” the 28-year-old Australian southpaw told The Ring from his training camp in Miami, Florida, after his final sparring session on Thursday.
“He is the most avoided fighter not only in boxing, but in my opinion in all of sport. The atmosphere here in Florida is good. I’ve been here for five weeks and I’m finishing the end of the camp.
“It feels good to be a week, nine days away from fulfilling a dream that I have had since childhood.
“Everything was good, there are good people around and a good atmosphere, so I’m ready to shock the world.”
Subriel Matias celebrates his IBF title winning performance against Jeremias Ponce.
The climate was also good for Paro.
“It’s like a Queensland summer here, it feels like home. It’s another bit of familiarity,” said the Mackay resident, who now lives in Brisbane.
“It was good, it was really good. We couldn’t have had a better camp. Honestly, I say this every time, but this one just fell into place. It was unreal.
“As usual, we did our best, but knowing what additional task awaits us and what hangs in the balance, we are ready. We are more than ready.
“You can expect Liam Paro’s best yet. I believe in myself. I will always rise to the occasion. This is the top of the tree. This is it. There is nothing bigger than this.
Paro (24-0, 15 KO) will face Matias (20-1, 20 KO), currently rated No. 2 by The Ring in the junior welterweight division, on June 15 at Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Manati, Puerto Rico. Paro is currently not rated.
The fight will be the second defense of the IBF junior welterweight title, which Matias won against Jeremias Ponce last February. Ponce retired to the stool before the start of the sixth round after collapsing at the end of the previous frame and was unable to continue against the busy, heavy-armed Matias.
Shohjahon Ergashev suffered a similar fate in his November clash with Matias. The Uzbek southpaw entered the fight with a reputation as a puncher himself after winning 20 of his previous 23 fights by knockout. Ergashev thought he could outdo the boxer and had some success in the first three rounds. But in the end it turned out to be a mirage.
Matias punched him and stopped him mid-round. Ergashev did not answer the bell that started the sixth round.
Such victories only deepen the myth about Matias. However, Paro believes that the one-sided nature of his victories encourages cheating.
“We know what Matias brings to the table,” he said. “He has one style and we don’t believe he’s going to leave it. We’re going to provide angles, quick feet and good footwork, but if he wants to get down and muddy, we can do that too.
“I’m not taking anything away from him. His record speaks for itself. He is an amazing champion and he is a champion for a reason. However, I think that people prepare badly for Matias, they come with a bad game plan. As you know, they often hit it, so they empty the tanks beforehand. If necessary, we are ready for a 12-round boxing clinic. We have strength there, but we won’t look for it. Never look for the knockout, focus on quick shots and it will come eventually.
Paro has demonstrated great versatility in his career so far. In his last three fights, he recovered from a first-round knockout and defeated Yomar Alamo in over 10 sets, knocked out Jeff Fenech’s protégé Brock Jarvis in one, and knocked out secondary rival Montana Love in December last year in San Francisco. , stopping him in six.
He will have to show his best to overtake Matias.
“That’s right,” Paro said. “People just pocket and trade with him. Anyone who knows anything about boxing can see that he doesn’t have great footwork. We can attack him on the outside, we can get in and get muddy too.
“So like I said, I think I’ve got all the basics down. We have artillery to match his firepower, if not firepower. So yes, I’m excited.”
The fight is being touted as a homecoming for Matias, who has not fought on the boxing-mad island in almost five years. Sold out crowds are expected at the event, and Paro’s fans will be uncommon as hen’s teeth.
All Paro wants, to operate an Australian colloquialism, is a good sucking out of the sauce bottle.
“IBF is a attractive organization, I’m very ecstatic to fight for it,” he said. I believe refereeing and refereeing will not be a problem. I think I’ll get a fair shot and that’s all we ever asked for and that’s what we’ll get.
“The rest is up to me and I do what I do. I believe I have the boxing skills to keep the cards wide enough to make a decision if he goes that far.
What if it doesn’t go that far?
“We saw in my last fight that if I hit someone neat, it would be hard for them to get off the canvas.
“Matias also puts a lot of emphasis on his fitness, but I’m in equally good shape. I showed it in my fights as well. Physical fitness is a huge factor.
“We have explored all the bases of this camp. We added things in there to make sure we were ready. We are ready to create a fever and give Matias one hell of a fight. I think we will give him a lot of surprises in this ring.
“As I do with everyone, I surprise them. And when they find out, it’s a little too slow.”
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