Dalton Smith raised the bar in his rivalry with Adam Azim by producing a sensational world title triumph on American soil on Saturday night.
A sparse crowd inside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center witnessed one of the finest away-day performances ever delivered by a British fighter, as Smith tore up his original game plan and outgunned fearsome puncher Subriel Matias to claim the WBC super-lightweight title.
Early on, the Brit appeared intent on boxing the Puerto Rican champion, using movement and timing to pick his moments with the right hand. That approach changed dramatically in the second round when Matias closed the distance and offered a reminder of the power that had fuelled a 96 per cent knockout ratio across his 22 wins.
What followed was a fierce, close-quarters battle, with both men trading heavily in the pocket. In the fifth round, however, it was Smith’s power that proved decisive. A crushing shot sent Matias to the canvas and referee Ricky Gonzalez waved the contest off seconds later, crowning the Sheffield fighter world champion in emphatic fashion.
The victory makes Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) Britain’s newest male world champion, joining Fabio Wardley, Lewis Crocker, Jazza Dickens and Nick Ball at the top table.
One man still chasing a belt is Smith’s long-standing rival Azim. The highly rated 23-year-old returns on January 31 against world-ranked Argentinian Gustavo Lemos, who was desperately unlucky not to get the decision against IBF champion Richardson Hitchins in 2024.
Azim temporarily set aside his rivalry with Smith to acknowledge the scale of the achievement. Posting on X a few hours after the fight, he wrote:
“Congratulations to Dalton Smith. That was one heck of a performance. All the 140 belts are coming to the UK.”
Should Azim (14-0, 11 KOs) get past Lemos, calls for a long-awaited domestic showdown will only intensify. For Smith, however, attention may first turn to business obligations, with mandatory challenger Alberto Puello waiting in the wings — and proof that life as a world champion doesn’t always allow for a quiet first defence.
