Subriel ‘NoMastias’ Aiming to Make Liam Paro Quit

Subriel Matias, the IBF junior welterweight titleholder, has plans to put his own spin on boxing’s most famous “no mas” moment. The intimidating Matias, on the cusp of a homecoming fight, believes “NoMastias” will make an appearance Saturday night in his native Puerto Rico.

Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) will face Liam Paro (24-0, 15 KOs) on Saturday at Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Manati, Puerto Rico, and he is predicting that his opponent will be the sixth in a row to suffer the same fate at his hands: an RTD.

Referencing the moment immortalized when Roberto Duran turned away from Sugar Ray Leonard in their second fight and uttered those two famous words – “no mas” – Matias has implied that he will force Paro into becoming the latest fighter he retires before the final bell.

“For this fight, they expect ‘NoMastias,’” Matias said. “We are going to show the world that the real heat is in Puerto Rico.”

Matias has praised Paro, but he also issued an ominous warning, recalling something Paro said that Matias didn’t appreciate.

“Tremendous fighter, but at some point, he said that the only thing good about me was that I was a loser,” Matias said. “He will have to prove that with facts.”

Matias, 32, last fought in November, stopping Shohjahon Ergashev in six rounds. Since that fight, he signed with Matchroom Boxing, which helped secure this homecoming fight. Saturday’s event will be Matias’ debut with the promotion.

Paro, 28, last fought in December, knocking out Montana Love in the sixth round. This will be Paro’s first world title fight.

“Expect NoMastias, number six in a row,” said Matias.

Matias isn’t the first fighter whose fighting persona has been imagined as an adaptation of Duran’s fateful phrase – that distinction belongs to three-division champion and current lightweight titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko, or “NoMasChenko.” And although the moniker suits Matias, who will be fighting again in his homeland for the first time since 2019, one can imagine him being satisfied by notching a win of any kind on Saturday.

“Fighting in Puerto Rico as a world champion is like a dream,” he said. “It’s like waking up and being in the room with my wife and my daughters. This is something special, and I am happy with God for everything, which is the most important thing, and to continue showing that we belong at this level.”