Last Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, it should have been a showcase for top junior welterweight contender Subriel Matias (15-1, 15 KOs).
The boxer had just signed a multi-fight deal with Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions, who placed him on the undercard of the highly anticipated rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury.
Matias was the mandatory challenger to IBF, WBA junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor.
Things did not go as expected against big underdog Petros Ananyan
Matias started well in the early rounds, but then he faded as the contest played and at one point found himself in serious trouble and on the verge of being stopped.
In the end, Ananyan won a ten round split decision with scores of 96-93, 95-94 and 95-94. Petros raised his record to 14-2-2 with seven knockouts.
Promoter Juan Orengo, who secured Matias a deal with PBC, is furious.
He says the boxer did not take the contest seriously and had a lackluster training camp.
“Subriel is irresponsible. He didn't train well when he knew he was going to fight since December. I had told him [to take it seriously] and he paid for it with punches and his future,” said Orengo to Carlos Gonzalez.
“Many people went to see him [at MGM Grand] and he gets embarrassed. It was disrespectful to the people of Puerto Rico and from now on there will be nothing smooth for him. First of all, he was insisting that he wanted to fight even though I told him to take it easy because the world title was going to come. I got him money, the fight and he didn't train.
He damaged his future. He lost and the eyes were on him. It hurts because he's good and he can become a champion. You have to tell me [you didn't train well] beforehand so this doesn't happen. Now the next fight will be more difficult. I get mad at him because he was destined to be a star and look what he does. I don't trust him anymore. I will never trust him again."