Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Dalton Smith of Britain made a significant impact on the international boxing scene by securing the WBC light-welterweight world title with a decisive stoppage of Subriel Matias in New York. The fight, held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, saw Smith engage in a thrilling exchange with the powerful Puerto Rican fighter, culminating in a dramatic fifth round. Smith landed a crucial looping overhand right that knocked Matias to the canvas. Although Matias managed to rise before the count ended, he was visibly unsteady, prompting the referee to halt the bout.
Reflecting on his performance, Smith remarked on the unique challenge he faced as the underdog for the first time in his career, stating, “It’s the first time in my career I’ve been the underdog and the first time I’ve fought a monster.” He praised Matias by saying, “Take nothing away from Subriel – he’s a great champion,” and acknowledged that he deviated from his original strategy by engaging Matias at his own pace. “I gave my dad a bit of a heart attack in there as that wasn’t the gameplan, but I took all his best shots and thought ‘you can’t hurt me’. I knew I’d get to him.” Smith’s victory adds him to the list of five male British world boxing champions, alongside Fabio Wardley, Lewis Crocker, Jazza Dickens, and Nick Ball.
Despite modest ticket sales, the atmosphere was electric, boosted by the enthusiastic support of Smith’s fans as he entered the ring to the Arctic Monkeys’ “When the sun goes down,” a nod to his Sheffield roots. However, the fight environment also benefited Matias, who enjoyed the backing of New York’s large Puerto Rican community. Matias appeared so relaxed before the fight that he even paused for selfies with family members during his walk to the ring. The match saw Smith capitalize early on Matias’s tendency to start slowly, winning the initial round with precise punches to the head and body. Matias responded strongly in the second round, forcing Smith to retreat and causing a nosebleed. The third round was less decisive, but Smith then took the surprising step of trading blows head-on with the champion. Both fighters came in with formidable knockout records—Matias with 22 KOs in 23 wins, and Smith boasting 13 stoppages himself. As the fourth round closed, Smith landed several powerful left hooks, setting the stage for the pivotal moments in the fifth, where he recovered from a brief stumble to deliver a knockout blow that secured his world title.
Prior to the fight, promoter Eddie Hearn hinted at the contentious backdrop surrounding Matias, commenting, “justice shall be served,” a likely reference to Matias’s earlier doping controversy. Matias had tested positive for the banned substance ostarine in an out-of-competition test overseen by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association in November, with his B-sample confirming the adverse finding. Despite this, the New York State Athletic Commission allowed the match to proceed, noting that the substance’s concentration was below thresholds recognized by other boxing authorities.
With his victory in the United States, Smith expressed aspirations to build a loyal fanbase on par with that of the late Ricky Hatton. He sent an encouraging message to aspiring young athletes: “This is a message to every kid out there. Do not let anybody tell you can’t achieve your dreams because if you work hard, you can do it.” By claiming a world title on American soil, Smith enters an elite group of British fighters who have achieved similar feats, including legends like Bob Fitzsimmons, Alan Minter, Lloyd Honeyghan, Nigel Benn, Darren Barker, James DeGale, and Kell Brook. Looking ahead, Smith can now target other key holders in the division, such as Teofimo Lopez, who is scheduled to fight Shakur Stevenson, as well as Gary Russell and Richardson Hitchins, who hold the WBA and IBF titles respectively. Smith summed up his outlook with confidence: “Show me the money. Let me enjoy this moment now – I’m going to embrace it. The future is bright.” In response, Hearn suggested that a celebration in Sheffield could soon follow, calling Smith “the light-welterweight superstar” and highlighting the realistic prospect of him fighting at Hillsborough, the home ground of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.