The International Boxing Federation has ordered No. 5 Subril Matias and No. 6 Gabriel Valenzuela to begin negotiations for a light welterweight title eliminator to determine the No. 1 contender to challenge new 140-pound champion Richardson Hitchens for his belt.
IBF command remover
32-year-old Mathias has an excellent chance to put himself back in world title contention to reclaim the old IBF belt he lost a year ago, following a 12-round unanimous decision defeat to Liam Barrow on June 15.
It is a difficult task for Valenzuela to beat Matias because he is an excellent player and will put constant pressure on him. Gabriel will likely follow Barrow's scheme using movement, excellent clinching, pushing, and other ruthless 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's his loss, as he's expected to fight Yumar Alamo next.
Jake Donovan is Preparing reports FIFA orders Matias-Valenzuela negotiations.
Gabriel Valenzuela (30-3-1, 17 KOs) has won his last five fights since losing to Montana Love via a narrow 12-round unanimous decision in Las Vegas on May 7, 2022. Valenzuela's other two losses came to William Zepeda and Luis Hernandez Ramos.
