Subriel Matias Proving He’s Too Powerful and Strong Against the Very Tough Batyrzhan Jukembayev
The IBF has ordered a four-man tournament to determine the IBF’s mandatory super lightweight contender. Part of it kicks off at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California as Subriel Matias faces Batyrzhan Jukembayev in an IBF World Super Lightweight eliminator. With all of his sixteen wins coming by stoppage, Matias has a well-earned reputation as someone who can punch. However, the 29-year-old from Fajardo, Puerto Rico has been forced to overcome some calamity as well.
In July of 2019, Matias stopped Maxim Dadashev in eleven rounds. Tragically, Dadashev passed away from injuries suffered in that fight days later. Two fights later, he suffered the first defeat of his career in a surprise unanimous decision loss to relatively unknown Petros Ananyan. He has rebounded since the Dadeshev tragedy and the defeat to Ananyan. In his last fight, Matias destroyed then-unbeaten Malik Hawkins in October of 2020.
While Jukembayev was born and raised in Kazakhstan, the 30-year-old southpaw has fought strictly out of Canada as a professional. While he has shown speed and solid skills through film observation, his resume is not the greatest in the world despite his number eight world ranking by the IBF at 140 pounds. Jukembayev’s biggest win is a unanimous decision victory over former World IBF Lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez, in September of 2019.
On paper, this should be a battle between the speed and boxing ability of Jukembayev versus the aggression and power of Matias. Both men are not afraid to stand in the pocket and fight. They also are hungry and understand what is available for the winner.
FIREWORKS EARLY
During the pre-fight lead-up, Jukembayev (18-1, 14 KOs) promised that he is the real deal. Trained by the well-regarded Manny Robles, the southpaw was impressive early on. He was able to pop Matias (17-1, 17 KOs) with jabs, counter uppercuts, and straight left hands up the middle.
Matias is a Brahma Bull who wants to seek and destroy. Yes, the Canadian transplant was landing his shots. However, the Puerto Rican was landing with hard punches of his own. Both men were not messing around.
There was not much movement, and it cost Jukembayev in the fourth. With 1:42 to go in the round, he went down from a Matias left hook. Yet, he got up and fought back hard in what proved to be a terrific round, but Matias had gained the momentum.
Matias often fights like he does not give a damn about defense. Jukembayev made him pay by hurting him late in round seven by way of a right hook.
LIKE A TIDAL WAVE
Undeterred, Matias kept marching forward as he swarmed his foe during a savage eighth round. At the end of the round, Jukembayev had the look of someone who was getting overwhelmed. After the round with Jukembayev, looking depleted, his corner decided to not let him come out for the ninth.
In the end, it was a typical Subriel Matias performance. His power and pressure were just too much. He ultimately beat his opponent down in what turned out to be a war. Matias’ march towards becoming the number one contender by the IBF continues on.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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