BRISBANE, Australia – Liam Paro has questioned whether Subriel Matias can rebuild his career after his defeat by Dalton Smith.
Matias on Saturday lost for the third time in his career when in his defence of his WBC junior-welterweight title he was stopped by the impressive Smith in the fifth round.
His previous defeat was inflicted by Paro in 2024 and cost him his IBF junior welterweight title, but having watched him rebuild and again reign as champion following his victory over Alberto Puello, Paro is unconvinced about the 33-year-old Matias’ potential to do so again.
Paro has since moved to welterweight and had on Friday been scheduled to fight Paddy Donovan in an eliminator for the IBF title at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on the undercard of the all-Australian grudge match between Michael Zerafa and Nikita Tszyu.
Illness has forced Donovan’s withdrawal and left Paro on course to next challenge the reigning champion Lewis Crocker – by when, it has already been speculated, Puerto Rico’s Matias could have chosen to join them at 147lbs.
“I think so,” Paro told BoxingScene when asked if he expected Matias’ next move to prove a struggle. “A lot of people in the comments said he wasn’t the same after I beat him. It is what it is. He was a hell of a fighter and I wish him well. We’ll have to wait and see but it is hard to come back that many times, but it’s just up to him – if he’s got that will in him.
“I watched the highlights. Congratulations Dalton Smith – it was massive, you know? I know that feeling to conquer ‘The Boogeyman’ – good on him. It’s a huge win. I wish him nothing but the best. Who knows, we might face off in the 147lbs division in the near future.”
Paro and those around him believed that his then-promoters Matchroom – who continue to guide the career of England’s Smith – didn’t sufficiently back him after his victory over Matias and he has called on them to show him the support that he believes he has earned.
“They definitely need to – they need to get behind him, and I think they will,” he explained. “He’s from the same country as Eddie [Hearn], which I think is a big thing for him – he loves backing his own.
“That’s no disrespect – I’m with No Limit now and they love backing their locals too. The Aussies; the same countrymen.
“I wish him well, and I hope he gets the exposure and the attention he deserves. It’s a hell of a fight. He was the same as me – he was a massive underdog. I wish him well. Some hard fights in the 140 division now. Enjoy the fruits of the labour – it’s a hard-deserved win.”
