Subriel Matías, the formidable rival of the Argentinean Jeremías Ponce: he was shot, he was imprisoned and he beat another boxer to death

The run of subriel matias as a boxer it has all the ingredients to become a novel. Born in Puerto Rico 30 years ago and though he tried baseball, he didn’t show the conditions for that sport. Shortly after he turned 12, he found a custom practice in the garage. At 17, he was already an amateur and more than once got into the ring to fight drunk. They attempted to kill him twice and he made his professional debut at 23, shortly after regaining his freedom after two years in prison. His most remembered fight is the one that had a tragic ending: his rival fainted and he died two days later.

Tonight he will contest the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title in the super lightweight category (up to 64 kilos) against the Argentinian Jeremy Poncein the United States.

If he wasn’t a professional before, it was because of the pace of his life. At the age of 20 he was shot for the first time: they tried to kill him and one bullet lodged in the buttock and another in the right thigh. After he recovered, a barrage of AK-47s passed by and a bullet hit him again, this time in the left thigh. Two months later he was arrested. He never explained why an attempt was made on his life or why he ended up in prison for two years until he paid bail.

Released, Matías began his career with a knockout on December 19, 2005 and five more fights followed with the same result. That was how he got his first trip abroad: first Dominican Republic and then to United States of America. At 28 he lost his first fight. it was before Petros Anayan, according to the cards. Eight months later she shot down Malik Hawkins before the last round. In his career he measured himself against some Argentines: Fernando “Vasco” Saucedoin 2018, e Jonathan “Colt” Enizin 2019. No one could with the Puerto Rican.

But the news that went around the world the most was another. In July 2019, he entered the ring at the MGM National Harbor Oxon Hill, Maryland to face Maxim Dadashev. The Russian was beaten and suffered a concussion. As he was leaving the ring, he collapsed and was rushed to the Hospital Center of Prince Georgewhere he died two days later.

They say he was so mortified by what happened that it was difficult for him to prepare properly for the fight that followed that tragedy, which happened to be that lonely defeat after the failure of the cards against Ananyan.

Tonight’s brawl is for Matías the closing of a circle, the one that prevented the beginning in the younger professionalism, with assassination attempts, prison and even that tragic fight of Dadashev. The opportunity to be world champion gave him pause.

“On October 10, 2012, I entered federal prison receiving yet another blow in my life, in which I wondered and wondered why? Unaware that God was working in my life, strengthening me in many ways, but influencing my mind more, to make me strong in the face of adversity and find myself. I thought I would never box again. I am released on bail in April after almost 2 years without freedom and God give me the opportunity to debut on December 19, 2015 and thanks to Heavenly Father 7 years and 2 months later I will have the opportunity to contest the IBF world title. To all who have dreams, never give them up, shots are part of life (SIC)”posted on his Facebook account.

The new version of Matías is anchored in religion. He found in that space the serenity that he didn’t have in his childhood in Central America and in a life forged with his fists. “When I win on February 25, it will be just the beginning of a glorious year for Puerto Rican sports. Not only will I be world champion, but I hope we win the World (Baseball) Classic so we can all celebrate big.”anticipated the boxer.

How do you see your Argentine rival?

“Ponce is a great boxer, I would compare him to Marcos Maidana. I don’t see many people like him in boxing today. I respect both him and Argentina. But my goal is not to let this fight finish until the last round”anticipated.

“Being in this place helped me find the peace and focus I needed to be ready. I had great training that helped prepare me for many different strokes and I ran six times a week.”indicated on his preparation for the epochal struggle.

After losing the only fight of his record against Russian Ananyan, Matías bounced back by stopping two previously undefeated boxers, Malik Hawkins AND Batyrzhan Yukembaev, then taking revenge on Ananyan by knocking him down in the ninth round. Now it’s the turn of the Argentinian Jeremías Ponce, one more chapter in the life of the Puerto Rican.