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Junior welterweight titlist Subriel Matias has stirred up controversy by targeting Teofimo Lopez and branding him a "coward" as talks of a potential unification fight between the two continue to swirl.
Matias, the IBF 140-pound titlist hailing from Puerto Rico, and Lopez, the WBO 140-pound titlist from Brooklyn, New York, are reportedly in negotiations for a blockbuster clash next summer to unify their junior welterweight belts.
In a recent social media post, Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) revealed that while Lopez had accepted an offer to fight in February, he himself would not be ready due to issues with his hand. Matias is coming off a dominant sixth-round stoppage victory over previously unbeaten Shohjahon Ergashev just last month, further bolstering his credentials as a formidable force in the division.
In an interview with Matchroom Boxing uploaded on their YouTube channel, Matias didn't mince words when addressing Lopez's character. "He's a coward," Matias asserted. "He says that he's offered to fight me, and he knows the reason why he made that offer is because I recently fought and I won't be ready and prepared for that fight. If he's a man of his word, then he will take the fight with me."
Matias didn't stop there, also directing a message to Lopez's outspoken father-trainer, Teofimo Lopez Sr. "And a message for his dad, stop talking so much sh!t," Matias continued.
"If he wants to fight me, he can fight me. There's dates there, there's April, March, if he wants to face me, stop being a coward. Stop talking sh!t and make sure that he'll face me."
Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs), a former unified lightweight champion who recently clinched his 140-pound title with a unanimous decision victory over Josh Taylor, is expected to face Jamaine Ortiz on Feb. 8 in Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl weekend.