The Saturday night March 1st Salita Promotions fight card main event will feature former IBF super-lightweight champion Subriel Matias as he makes his return to the ring to face Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela (30-3-1, 17 KOs) at the Coliseo Tomas Dones in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, streaming live on DAZN.

The last time Subriel Matias fought in his native Puerto Rico, he had a disappointing performance as he suffered the second loss of his professional career. Now the 32-year-old Matias is set to redeem himself as he plans on winning the IBF super-lightweight title eliminator bout in front of his hometown crowd.

After stopping Petros Ananyan in the ninth round back in January 2022, the 140-pound contender Subriel Matias developed the reputation of being the Boogeyman of the division. Matias mastered a relentless pressure style of offense in which he broke his opponents down and produced a stoppage in all of his victories.

In February 2023, Subriel Matias stopped Jeremias Ponce in the 5th round and won the vacant IBF super-lightweight world title. A year later, Matias would return to Puerto Rico for the  2nd defense of his world title. Unfortunately for Matias, he lost to Liam Paro by way of unanimous decision.

Five months later, Subriel Matias bounced back by posting a 2nd round TKO victory over Roberto Ramirez. Now the hard hitting Matias is basically one step away from earning the opportunity to become a two-time world champion.

Looking to play the role of the spoiler is the 30-year-old Mexican boxer Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela. On the night of March 1st, a victory for the underdog Valenzuela would result in ruining Matias’ homecoming, and taking the IBF world title challenger spot.

Back in May 2022, Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela faced the then undefeated 140-pound contender Montana Love. In the opening round of the bout, the southpaw Love connected with a right hook that floored Valenzuela.

Valenzuela would strike back in the second round when he landed a check left hook that sent Love down to the canvas. The fight was very competitive, but at the conclusion of the 12-round contest, Montana Love earned a unanimous decision victory, as all three judges scored the bout 114-112 in favor of Love.

After losing to Montana Love, Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela would go on to put together a 5-fight win streak. Now he is scheduled to participate in a career defining match that has world title implications.

Subriel Matias (21-2, 21 KOs) is a pressure fighter who is considered to be one-dimensional, but the one thing he does, he executes it very well. If Matias is able to dictate the pace of the fight by using the high guard, pressing forward and landing his shots, then it could become a painful night for Valenzuela.

In order for Valenzuela to pull off the upset, he has to steal Liam Paro’s playbook. Valenzuela must establish his jab, control the range, box from the outside, use the clinch if Matias gets too far inside, and box well off the back foot. Valenzuela will have to be patient, disciplined, and defensively responsible through the course of 12 rounds.

On Saturday night March 1st a pivotal battle will take place in Puerto Rico between the hometown favorite Subriel Matias and Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela. The loser of this bout will have to take a step back and rebuild, while the winner will move on to challenge the reigning IBF super-lightweight world champion Richardson Hitchins.