STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island’s undefeated boxer, Reshat Mati, also known as the “Albanian Bear,” made a successful return to the ring after 19 months away.
The 27-year-old Grasmere resident extended his professional record to 16-0 with a victory over Ecuador’s Jose Angulo on Oct. 18 at Barclays Center.
The bout, contested at a catchweight of 158 pounds, ended in a majority decision, with the judges scoring it 77-75, 76-76, and 77-75 in Mati’s favor, according to BoxRec.com.
The fight marked Mati’s first match in 19 months, showcasing not only his skill and determination but also his resilience after a hiatus filled with personal and physical challenges.
During his absence, Mati underwent elbow surgery and took time off to heal while supporting his father, Adrian Mati, who received a heart transplant earlier this year.
“It was a weird kind of comeback,” said Mati. “Things weren’t kind of going toward the plan of the fight. I just had to adapt … I had to do whatever it took to get the win.”
He explained that certain aspects of his preparation weren’t where they needed to be, and he worked to correct those gaps in training.
“Yeah, there were times where head movement and stuff like that weren’t there, and you have to adapt and make sure things were getting fixed,” recalled Mati.
The fighter described this bout as more of a battle with himself than with his opponent, reflecting on the long layoff and the mental challenge of returning to the ring after such a break.
“I never had that kind of layoff. I was never out for that long. It’s just a different kind of circumstance,” said Mati. “I definitely had a tougher time in this fight, but it wasn’t toward the opponent. It was more toward myself and trying to get my head right and kind of breaking off that ring rust.”
Adding to the challenge, Mati had to adjust to fighting without his father — his long-time coach — a presence he had relied on throughout his career.
“I usually have my dad in my corner, and I had to do the whole camp without him,” said Mati. “It definitely felt like something was missing, but in life, you have to adapt to things you’re not used to. You have to do what you have to do.”
Though his father could not attend the fight, Adrian Mati followed the match from home.
In the months leading up to the fight, Mati dedicated himself to intensive training — sparring, conditioning, refining his fundamentals and cutting weight. His return marked both a personal and professional milestone, showcasing the resilience, discipline, and determination that have defined his career.
Despite the challenges, Mati said he is keeping his eyes on a bigger prize.
“For me, 16-0 is just a number,” said Mati. “I’m more chasing world titles instead of chasing a record.”
Although no fights are currently scheduled, Mati is focused on recovery and improvement, ensuring he avoids repeating mistakes from his last camp.
“It was a rough camp, and things weren’t going how I wanted them to go,” recalled Mati. “But at the end, we still got the job done and remained undefeated.”
Mati’s return to the ring was about more than personal achievement — it was also about representing Albania.
The country 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. Mati said he plans to remain active in boxing for the next four to five years, fully committed to becoming Albania’s first world champion.
With his undefeated streak now at 16-0, the “Albanian Bear” remains a figure to watch, both for his skill in the ring and his pride for his community.
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