Mathias stops Ponce for vacant IBF title

At the Armory Arena and Minneapolis, Minnesota, Subriel Mathias (19-1, 19 KOs) became the new IBF super lightweight world champion. In the fight for the vacant title, he scored an early victory in the fifth round over Jeremias Ponce (30-1, 20 KOs) and took over the title previously held by Josh Taylor.

The first few rounds were held in a stubborn and fairly equal fight, but in the fifth round Mathis was able to deliver an accurate series of blows to the body and head, from which Ponce was in a heavy knockdown. He was able to survive until the break, but the corner decided that it would be better to keep his fighter healthy and refused to continue.