Subriel Matias vs. Liam Paro announced for June 15 in Puerto Rico

PUERTO RICAN crowd pleaser Subriel Matias will return to his homeland to defend his IBF super-lightweight title on June 15 against Australia’s Liam Paro.

Last month the 31-year-old joined forces with Matchroom Boxing in a multi-fight co-promotional deal which has added even greater depth to Eddie Hearn’s stable at 140lbs.

Matias vs. Paro will take place at the Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Manati and will represent the second defence of the belt which Matias won in February 2023 against Jeremias Nicolas Ponce who retired after five rounds. A mandatory defence followed nine months later when Uzbeki Shohjahon Ergashev also retired but this time in the sixth round.

“I am super excited to be able to be in front of my people defending the title that we had such a hard time getting,” said Matías, 20-1 (20 KOs), in a Matchroom press release.

“The mentality will always be the same and in front of my people I don’t even have to say it, they know me. The Pride of Maternillo.”

Paro, 24-0 (15 KOs), is also part of the talented super-lightweight group Matchroom having put pen to paper on a promotional deal in 2021. The Queenslander is yet to taste defeat and last time out notched up his biggest win to date knocking out Montana Love in six rounds.

“I’ve waited my whole life for this opportunity,” said Paro. “Fighter’s fight and I can’t wait to fight the boogeyman in his backyard.”