Fighters react to fearless Dalton Smith’s stunning KO of Subriel Matias to win world title

Kerr Ferguson

Fighters react to fearless Dalton Smith’s stunning KO of Subriel Matias to win world title
Image credit: Matchroom / X

Dalton Smith went into the lion’s den, fought fire with fire and snatched the WBC Super Lightweight World title to add himself to the list of great Brits who have won top honours on away soil.

Many had predicted that Sheffield’s Smith must box clever against the relentless champion Subriel Matias, who had been involved in a PED controversy pre-fight but was cleared to fight by the New York State Athletic Commission. Some in the sport — Hall of Famer Tim Bradley included — gave the challenger no chance whatsoever.

After a measured opener at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center, Matias began to impose his will. Smith, trained by his father, Grant, took the decision to trade up and paid the price with a cut opening over his eye in the third. It looked to be going the Puerto Rican’s way until he was caught at the end of the fourth.

The Steel City man entered a slugfest in the fifth and his courage to do so paid off — Matias was rocked by two right hands and knocked down by the next shot on his temple. He was on wobbly legs when up, and referee Ricky Gonzalez stepped in to stop the action to mark a truly sensational win for the new champion, Smith.

Post-fight, the performance drew widespread praise from his peers, analysts and fans.

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