The Man who beat the Man.

Last June, Subriel Matias surprisingly lost his IBF junior welterweight title to Liam Paro in what was supposed to be a homecoming appearance in Puerto Rico.

Matias, rated at No. 7 by The Ring at junior welterweight, has since rebounded with two wins, including an impressive beatdown of Gabriel Valenzuela in seven-rounds in Fajardo, Puerto Rico in early March.

"I achieved two goals: The fans left a great event, happy and I achieved the goal of not making it onto the judges' scorecards," Matias (22-2, 22 knockouts) told The Ring through Fernando Gaztambide. "The styles were conducive to that. My respect to Valenzuela. We were just two gladiators chasing a dream.

"He's a Mexican, he's extremely tough. In the end, we managed to win by knockout, but he held on for a long time."

That win saw Matias become the IBF mandatory challenger to Paro's conqueror Richardson Hitchins.

Before both meet, Matias is tabbed to return this summer and Hitchins is due to defend his title against George Kambosos in New York on June 21.

"We're now No. 1 in the IBF," he said. "Hitchins shouldn't run away now. I've earned my opportunity, and we have to fight, or he has to give up the title."

In the meantime, the 33-year-old king of Fajardo will have one eye on "Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves" event at Times Square featuring Ring, WBO beltholder Teofimo Lopez and Arnold Barboza, Devin Haney-Jose Ramirez and the Ryan Garcia-Rolando Romero dual, on May 2.

He has his crosshairs particularly zeroed in on one man on that show, who he was linked with a March fight that ultimately didn't come to pass.

"Whoever wins in the end, if they need an opponent at 140 or 147 pounds, I'm willing to fight anyone," he said. "I hope they all continue to achieve their objectives, that they continue to win.

"Teofimo will pay the consequences; in the end, he has to pay for everything he's said, but he's hiding now, but I understand that time will come."