STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After more than a year away from competition, Staten Island boxer Reshat Mati, also known as the “Albanian Bear,” is preparing for his comeback fight on Oct. 18 at Barclays Center.
The 27-year-old Grasmere resident has been boxing nearly his entire life. He first laced up his gloves at 4 years old, turning what began as a way to learn self-defense into a lifelong passion.
“It first started with self-defense,” said Mati. “I wasn’t a very big guy. I was always trying to protect myself. Then, it started off with competitions, which led to turning professional.”
Success story
That passion quickly turned into success. As an amateur, Mati won the New York Golden Gloves in 2017, before adding both the National Golden Gloves and the New York Ringmaster Championship titles in 2018.
By the time he was 20, his talent had already drawn the attention of promoters, and in October 2018, he made his professional debut in Chicago — winning with a third-round knockout against Adan Ahumada.
Mati has remained undefeated throughout his professional career, securing a 15-0 record since 2018, according to BoxRec.com. His last fight was in March 2024, with an eight-round unanimous decision win over Irving Macias.
Shortly after, he underwent elbow surgery and took time off to heal and support his father, Adrian Mati, through serious health challenges, but after more than a year away from the ring, Mati said he is ready to return to the spotlight.
Preparing for the comeback
For most fighters, the corner of the ring is where they draw strength. According to Mati, that corner has always been reserved for his father. Now, as he prepares to return to the ring, Mati said he is learning what it means to fight without him. His father — his number one coach and mentor — can no longer be at every training session after recently undergoing a heart transplant.
“It feels a little weird not having my father with me at all times at the gym,” said Mati. “He was my number one coach. We’d go together, we’d leave together. He was always in my corner.”
For the last few months, Mati has been training intensively. He admitted that although he missed being in the ring, the process isn’t glamorous. Six days a week are filled with sparring, conditioning, boxing fundamentals, and the grind of shedding pounds. Sundays are supposed to be rest days, but even then, he runs.
For his comeback fight, Mati will be moving back up to welterweight, 147 pounds, with a catchweight of 152 pounds due to the time he’s been out of the ring.
“It’s bittersweet, because I’m doing what I was doing before and going through the process,” said Mati. “You’re beating your body up. You don’t feel healthy all the time, and you’re trying to lose weight, but it’s more bittersweet, because I have unfinished business.”
That unfinished business reaches beyond personal goals. Mati explained that the fight is also about representation. Albania has produced strong fighters, but has never had a world champion recognized by Ring Magazine or boxing’s four major sanctioning bodies: WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO.
“There’s an interim champion, but no world champion yet,” he said. “It gives me a goal, because no one has done it yet. I want to be the guy for Albanian boxing.”
That same desire to carve out his own place is reflected in his nickname, “Albanian Bear,” which is a name a coach randomly gave him, but it stuck, and for his supporters, it fits perfectly. Before that, Mati briefly went by “Mad Dog,” though he admitted he never really knew why.
Over time, the new name has become more than a nickname; it has become a way for his supporters to identify with him and is a reflection of his bond with the Albanian community that has rallied behind his career.
“We’re a small, tight union in New York,” said Mati. “I’m grateful for them coming out to support me. I don’t go in there to fight just to fight. I want to make sure that everybody has a good time and enjoys watching.”
The big event
On Oct. 18, the “Albanian Bear” will step back into the spotlight at Barclays Center, carrying his father’s lessons, his community’s pride, and his own drive to make history as a world champion. While his opponent has yet to be finalized, Mati said he remains focused and confident, ready to face whoever enters the ring.
“If I can win a world title and defend it at least once, then I’ll be happy,” said Mati. “Until then, I plan on fighting, and I plan on winning.”
The 27-year-old said he expects to continue competing for another four to five years, fully committed to chasing that dream.