Mathias Vs. Valenzuela: February 2 purse auction

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

Lance Pugmire reports that the Matthias vs. Valenzuela purse bid has been ordered to determine Hitchins #1 challenger.

Matthias title shot

Subriel, 32, is not popular enough to be chosen by Hitchins to defend voluntarily. Therefore, Matias had to hit the passenger, Valenzuela, and go on the forced route. It makes sense. No champion at 140 would willingly face a KO artist like Matthias. We recently saw Matthias return the favor against WBO champion Teofimo Lopez.

Former IBF champion Mathias (21-2, 21 KOs) lost his title to Lima Paro last year, losing a 12-round decision on June 15 in Manatee, Puerto Rico. Seen by many boxing fans as the bogeyman of the 140-lb division, Matias knocked out Roberto Ramirez in the second round on November 9th.

Teofimo recently turned down the biggest payday of his career to defend his WBO light welterweight title against Subriel Matias. He didn’t want to fight Matthias because he felt he would be better off on the West Coast instead of New York.

Lopez also had a high profile PPV match against Matias. He said he didn’t like wanting to do it. Fans believe Teofimo lacks the confidence to take the fight knowing that Matias hits hard and is a pressure fighter who can knock him out and ruin his career.

Valenzuela (30-3-1, 17 KOs) is on a five-fight winning streak following a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Montana Love on May 7, 2022.

Richardson (19-0, 7 KOs) could next face WBO 140-lb champion Teofimo Lopez in a unification fight on one of Turkey’s Al-Sheikh cards if Theo chooses to take it. If not, there is a possibility that George Kambossos Jr. will challenge Hitchins for the IBF belt.