The IBF has ordered a 140-pound title eliminator bid on February 2 between #3 Subriel Matias and #4 Gabriel Valenzuela to determine the mandatory challenger for light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchens.

Lance Pugmire reports that Matias’ prize money bid against Valenzuela has been ordered to identify Hitchens’ first challenger.

Matthias title shot

Subril, 32, was not popular enough to be selected by Hitchens for his voluntary defense. Therefore, Matias must go the force route, beat the slugger Valenzuela, and force a fight. This makes sense. No 140 year old champion wants to face a KO artist like Mathias. We saw this recently with WBO champion Teofimo Lopez when he balked at the idea of ​​Matias.

Former IBF champion Matías (21-2, 21 KOs) lost his title to Liam Parro last year, losing via unanimous decision over 12 rounds on June 15 in Manati, Puerto Rico. . Matias, considered by many boxing fans to be a demon in the 140-pound division, knocked out Roberto Ramirez in the second round on November 9.

Teofimo recently turned down what was said to be the highest salary of his career to defend his WBO light welterweight title against Subril Matias. He said he didn’t want to fight Mathias because Top Rank wanted the fight to be on the West Coast instead of New York, where he felt he would do better.

Lopez also said he doesn’t like Top Rank placing the fight with Matias on PPV. Fans feel Teofimo lacks the confidence to handle this fight because they know Matias is a strong striker and a pressure fighter that could knock him out and ruin his career.

Valenzuela (30 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss, 17 KOs) has won five straight since losing to Montana Love via unanimous decision in 12 rounds on May 7, 2022. His wins since then have come against lower-level opponents.

If Te’o chooses to accept it, Richardson (19-0, 7 KOs) could next face WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo Shaikh in a unification fight on one of Turki Sheikh’s cards. Lopez. If not, George Kambosos Jr. could challenge Hitchens for the IBF belt.