A shell-shocked Subriel Matias admitted he never thought he would be knocked out, having been stopped in round six by Dalton Smith.
The Puerto Rican puncher, beaten in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn by the Englishman, dropped to 23-3 (22 KOs) to lose his WBC junior welterweight title.
“People, what can I say?” said Matias on his social media. “What I never thought would happen, getting knocked out in my career and for the first time they stopped me, something I’m used to doing to others. But I feel it was a bad stoppage, or I don’t know, in other cases I would have preferred they just finish me. But that’s boxing. There’s a referee and he did what he thought was right. What can I tell you? Thanks to everyone for the support, to the haters and the supporters alike. Blessings. We’re still active.”
Matias was well in the fight until the Sheffield star broke through with right hands to drop Matias, who made it back to his feet only for the contest to be waved off by referee Ricky Gonzalez.
