Elvis Rodriguez has chosen not to take the fight with former IBF light welterweight champion Subriel Matias. Instead, the 140-lb contender Rodriguez (17-1-1, 13 KOs) could be fighting Yomar Alamo (22-3-1, 13 KOs).
Team Rodriguez’s excuse for rejecting the fight with Matias is that he “does not deserve” it. That’s a strange reason for fighting him because Elvis is not a world champion; he is just one of the many contenders in the 140-lb division.
There’s way more to gain for Elvis Rodriguez fighting Subriel Matias than Yomar Alamo, who is coming off an eight-round unanimous decision loss to Delante Johnson on September 27th.
However, one positive from fighting Yomar Alamo is that there’s minimal risk of Elvis getting knocked out. He’s not a puncher like Matias, and Rodriguez’s chances of winning are much higher.
The Real Reason?
That excuse would be more believable if Rodriguez fought one of the A-level contenders at light welterweights, like Gary Antuanne Russell, Arnold Barboza Jr., or Sandor Martin. Fighting Yomar Alamo gives the impression that Elvis didn’t want any part of fighting Subriel Matias and seeing their fighter lose again.
Matias (21-2, 21 KOs) would have been a tough fight for the ‘Dominican Kid’ Elvis Rodriguez, so it’s not a surprise that his team chose not to take this match. Rodriguez already lost to Kenneth Sims Jr. in 2021, and he’s been working his way back since.
Elvis, 28, has won his last six fights since, albeit against middle-of-the-road opposition and not against the predatory sharks at light welterweight. It would have great if he at least tried to fight one of the dangerous contenders since losing to Sims for years ago.
“No, to Subriel Matias. [He] does not deserve the opportunity,” reports @cesarseda. “Internal sources reveal that Top Rank is managing: Elvis Rodríguez vs Yomar Álamo.”
Obviously, it wouldn’t play well if Team Rodriguez just flat-out said that they didn’t want to take the fight with Matias because he’s too risky.
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