Dalton Smith took a decisive step ahead in his rivalry with Adam Azim by capturing the WBC super-lightweight title with a stoppage win over Subriel Matias in Brooklyn. Fighting away from home at the Barclays Center, Smith delivered a performance that quickly shifted from calculated boxing to a punishing close-range battle, ultimately overpowering the Puerto Rican champion in five rounds.
Smith’s original plan to control the fight was disrupted early when Matias closed the distance and forced exchanges. What followed was an intense firefight, with both men trading heavily in the pocket. The turning point came in the fifth round, when Smith landed a crushing shot that dropped Matias and prompted referee Ricky Gonzalez to halt the contest.
The win crowned Smith as Britain’s newest male world champion, adding his name alongside Fabio Wardley, Lewis Crocker, Jazza Dickens and Nick Ball. Improving to 19-0 (14 KOs), the Sheffield fighter now holds one of the division’s most coveted belts and has firmly established himself at the top level.
Watching closely was long-time rival Adam Azim, who paused their domestic rivalry to acknowledge the magnitude of Smith’s achievement. Posting on social media shortly after the fight, Azim congratulated Smith and predicted that all the 140-pound titles could soon be heading to the UK.
Azim, 14-0 (11 KOs), returns to action on January 31 against world-ranked Gustavo Lemos, which could accelerate calls for a long-anticipated all-British showdown if he emerges victorious. For Smith, however, immediate attention may turn to mandatory obligations, with Alberto Puello waiting as a reminder that life as a newly crowned world champion offers little time to stand still.
Image Credit: Sky Sports