Subriel Matias is ready to bump whenever Teofimo Lopez is ready to sign.

Talks are ongoing for a terrific matchup that would see Lopez defend The Ring 140-pound championship and WBO title versus Puerto Rico’s Matias, The Ring’s No. 6 contender. The two sides first huddled up near the end of 2024 and remains targeted to take place midway through the first half of 2025.

The fact that it’s not done yet, however, means that it’s already taking too long for the former IBF junior welterweight titlist’s liking.

“I’m waiting for you,” Matias insisted in an Instagram post directed at Lopez. “Stop running. Here’s your moment.”

Matias (21-2, 21 KOs) saw his IBF title reign end in a twelve-round defeat to then-unbeaten Liam Paro (25-1, 15 KOs), now The Ring’s No. 5 contender. He returned to the win column with a two-round blitzing of Roberto Ramirez (26-4-1, 19 KOs) on Nov. 9 in Bayamon, P.R.

At the time, Matias didn’t know whether to next expect to go the title eliminator route or if a shot at the divisional championship or a major title would manifest.

“I leave all that up to my promoter, Juan Orengo and Fresh Productions,” Matias told The Ring. “They are the best in the business when it comes to that. They know I am ready for anything.

“Right now, I am ready to take on Teofimo Lopez. I hope he’s ready, too.”

Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) originally planned to return in the first quarter of 2025. The Brooklyn native—who now lives and trains in Las Vegas—won the Ring/WBO championship in a June 2023 twelve-round decision over then-unbeaten Josh Taylor (19-0 at the time) at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City.

Two championships defenses have followed, both in 2024. Lopez outpointed Jamaine Ortiz last February in Las Vegas, and then Steve Claggett last June in the greater Miami area where he also has roots.

Matias won the IBF title in a Feb. 2023 fifth-round knockout of Argentina’s Jeremias Ponce. His lone successful defense came nine months later, when he forced Shohjahon Ergashev to quit in his corner after five rounds.

Ponce and Ergashev were both unbeaten before they ran into Matias, as was Paro at the time of their meeting last June 15 in Manati, P.R.