The IBF has ordered #5 Subriel Matias and #6 Gabriel Valenzuela to begin negotiations for a light welterweight title eliminator to decide the #1 contender to challenge the new 140-lb champion Richardson Hitchins for his belt.
IBF Orders Eliminator
Matias, 32, has an excellent chance of putting himself back into a world title fight to win back his old IBF belt that he lost a year ago, a 12-round unanimous decision defeat against Liam Paro on June 15th.
It’s a tall order for Valenzuela to defeat Matias because he’s an excellent puncher, and he will be putting nonstop pressure on him. Gabriel will likely follow Paro’s blueprint by using movement, excellent clinching, shoving, and other roughhouse tactics to try and win.
Elvis Rodriguez chose not to fight Matias (21-2, 21 KOs). Otherwise, he would have faced the former IBF light welterweight champion in the title eliminator. It’s his loss, as he’s expected to fight Yomar Alamo next.
Jake Donovan is reporting the IBF is ordering the Matias-Valenzuela negotiations.
Gabriel Valenzuela (30-3-1, 17 KOs) has won his last five fights since losing to Montana Love by a narrow 12-round unanimous decision in Las Vegas on May 7, 2022. Valenzuela’s other two defeats have come against William Zepeda and Luis Hernandez Ramos.