Dalton Smith’s rise to world champion status has moved quickly, but the WBC is already steering what comes next.
Unbeaten and now holding the WBC 140-pound title, Dalton Smith secured the belt with an emphatic fifth-round stoppage of Subriel Matias at the Barclays Center. Along with the title, Smith also inherited an obligation that had already been written into the championship’s future: a mandatory defense against former titleholder Alberto Puello.
This mirrors the situation Matias himself faced last year. When Matias edged Puello by majority decision in July, the WBC approved the bout with a clear condition attached. The winner would immediately be required to face Smith, who was the mandatory challenger at the time. Puello appealed the decision, arguing for a rematch after a close fight, but while the appeal was acknowledged, it did not alter the long-term plan.
Instead, the WBC ordered consecutive mandatory bouts. Matias was sent straight into the Smith fight, and Puello was guaranteed the next shot at whoever emerged as champion. That ruling remains in force, meaning Smith now steps into the same position Matias occupied only months ago.
Although Matchroom Boxing regained control of the title through Smith’s victory, promotional freedom is limited. Puello’s team has already signaled its intention to enforce the mandatory without delay, leaving Smith’s first defense likely to be against the Dominican challenger unless an exception is granted by the WBC.
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