British boxer Dalton Smith defended his WBC world welterweight title with a split decision victory over Alberto Puell. The fight took place at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, with two judges scoring it 115-113 in Smith's favour, while the third judge awarded the bout 116-112 to the Dominican fighter Puell.
It was Smith's first title defence, and the win extended his record to 20 wins. Previously, in January, he knocked out Subriel Matias in the fifth round in Brooklyn. Puell, a double world champion and 32-year-old fighter, suffered only his second defeat in his career, his only previous loss having been to Matias last year.
The fight was originally scheduled for June, but Smith withdrew due to an elbow injury. He entered the ring to the song Thunderstruck by AC/DC, wearing blue and white Sheffield Wednesday kit. During the bout, he sustained a cut under his right eye, and at the final bell, he leapt into his father's arms.
In the fourth round, Smith landed a right hand, while Puell responded in the sixth with a series of straight lefts and slid to the canvas. In the ninth round, Smith threw a double jab and a right cross, and Puell answered with an uppercut and a body cross. In the final 20 seconds, Smith played to the crowd.
Promoter Eddie Hearn stated that Dalton Smith is a man of destiny and has become the number one pound-for-pound fighter in Britain. Smith has previously won British, Commonwealth and European honours, and now wants to lead the charge at Hillsborough Stadium for Sheffield Wednesday. He is targeting the biggest names in boxing, including undefeated American Shakur Stevenson, WBO world champion and winner of world titles in four weight classes, who recently left Zuffa Boxing. A potential unification opponent is WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell.
Smith said he would like a fight against Adam Azim at Hillsborough in 2027, and that his number one goal in life is to become a world champion and make history, while his second goal is to sell out Hillsborough Stadium. Sheffield has produced world champions including Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Kell Brook.
