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 new 140 lb champion Richardson Hitchins for his belt.
IBF order eliminator
Matias, 32, has an excellent chance to get back into a world title fight to regain his old IBF belt which he lost a year ago, a 12-round unanimous decision defeat to Liam Paro on June 15 .
It’s a tall order for Valenzuela to defeat Matias because he’s an excellent puncher, and he’ll put on non-stop pressure. Gabriel will likely follow Paro’s plan with 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 a title eliminator. It is his loss, as he expected to fight Yomar Alamo next.
Jake Donovan is report the IBF ordered the Matias-Valenzuela negotiations.
Gabriel Valenzuela (30-3-1, 17 KOs) has won his last five fights since losing to Montana Love via a 12-round unanimous decision in Las Vegas on May 7, 2022. Valenzuela’s other two losses they came up against William Zepeda and Luis Hernandez Ramos.
