Subriel Matias breaks down Malik Hawkins and forces a doctor’s stoppage

Malik Hawkins had high hopes coming into his matchup with Subriel Matias, but Matias’ power was too much, and he handed Hawkins his first defeat. 

Malik Hawkins was confident headed into his Saturday, Oct. 24 matchup with Subriel Matias, but Matias proved to be too much and forced the doctor to stop the fight at the start of the seventh round.

Hawkins (18-1, 11KOs) was undefeated before his bout with Matias. The 24-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, had a lot of hype behind him. Hawkins is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and is a stablemate of WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis.

Hawkins sparred with some of the best boxers in the world, including Terence Crawford and Jaron Ennis to prepare for Matias. Matias was a significant step up in competition. Hawkins thought he could handle Matias, but Matias broke him down throughout six rounds of boxing.

Matias (16-1, 16 KOs) lost his February contest against Petros Ananyan by unanimous decision. He was dropped in the seventh round of that fight. Following his first and only loss, Matias’ promoter criticized his work ethic and said that Matias didn’t train properly for Ananyan.

Hawkins was storming up the junior welterweight rankings before his fight with Matias. Matias bullied Hawkins around the ring and didn’t give him room to box. The 6-foot Hawkins had a four-inch height advantage, and two-inch reach advantage over Matias, but Matias walked through Hawkins’ punches.

Subriel Matias returned to winning form with his seventh-round stoppage of Malik Hawkins

Hawkins couldn’t hurt Matias with any of his shots. The 28-year-old from Puerto Rico showed Hawkins no respect in the ring. He held his hands by his side as he repeatedly walked Hawkins down.

Matias battered Hawkins with left hooks to the head and body all night. He dropped Hawkins with a left hook behind the head in round six. Hawkins got to his feet, and the bell rang.

Before Hawkins could come out for round 7, the referee had the doctor take a look at Hawkins for the second time of the fight. Hawkins’ right eye was badly swollen, and the doctor called an end to the fight, giving Matias the stoppage win.

Matias rebounds after his only loss in fantastic fashion. He has won all of his fights by knockout and made his defeat to Ananyan a distant memory. It’s Matias who ups his junior welterweight credibility and not Hawkins.