What to Know
- The UK’s youngest world champion, WBC Super Lightweight champion Dalton Smith, will defend his title on Saturday at home in Sheffield against former world champion Alberto Puello of the Dominican Republic.
- Dalton vs Puello heads a Machroom Boxing card featuring a grudge match between top women’s super flyweights Shannon Ryan and Emma Dolan, the return of veteran Maxi Hughes, and an appearance by exciting young heavyweight Leo Atang.
- The fight card airs on DAZN Boxing in the U.S. starting with prelims at 12 noon ET/9 a.m. PT, and the main card at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
Super lightweight Dalton Smith pulled off an impressive upset win to start 2026. He did something no other opponent had done, stopping the relentless power puncher Subriel Matias of Puerto Rico in five rounds to become the new WBC World Super Lightweight champion.
Smith won by coming straight at Matias to neutralize his pressure head-on, instead of boxing and playing it safe. It paid off.
Now Smith returns to face the man who lost that same belt to Matias six months earlier, Alberto Puello of the Dominican Republic based in Las Vegas (25-1, 11 KOs).
Puello wants his title back, and he’s highly motivated to beat Smith. Both men know a win puts they close to a potential unification fight in the division. Now that Shakur Stevenson is no longer working with Zuffa Boxing, he becomes a realistic option, which only adds to the motivation of both men.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn called it an important night for Smith. Hearn has made no secret of his wish to stage a stadium fight or major unification bout for Smith, potentially next spring at Sheffield’s Hillsborough Stadium.
But first, Smith needs to take care of his business on Saturday. Smith, Puello and several undercard fighters had their say at the final pre-fight news conference in Sheffield on Thursday.
Dalton Smith: “There Are No Easy Fights”
Smith, who generally prefers to do his talking in the ring, said he’s well aware of the challenge ahead, but added that he’s never avoided a fight.
“I have always fought who I have needed to fight in front of me. And I have always come out victorious,” said Smith.
Smith said his big win in Brooklyn in January is now old news, and he intends to pick up right where he left off after stopping Subriel Matias.
“The best fighters bring the best out of me. That’s why on Saturday night you are going to get the best version of Dalton Smith.”
Smith said he’s watched Alberto Puello for well over a year, including the controversial majority decision loss by Puello to Matias, which he watched ringside last summer. “I go into this fight feeling very confident. I have prepared for this like I am the challenger and on Saturday night I will prove to the boxing world why I am number one.
“I am cool, calm, collected, and I will do it again on Saturday. It’s massive, and without the support that I’ve got, I wouldn’t be able to do this. I’ve got one of the best teams around and Saturday night is going to be special, and the atmosphere is going to be electric,” promised Smith.
Alberto Puello: “We Are Here For A War”
Puello admits the loss to Matias was difficult for him to accept. The margins were razor thin, and a significant number of observers believed Matias had won, including this writer. Puello intends to get revenge by taking the belt back from its current owner, Dalton Smith.
“Now we are here for a war. I am here to get back that title that was taken away from me. We come in now better prepared for the fight than we were last time against Subriel Matias and we are ready to get back what is ours,” said Puello.
Puello wouldn’t give up any details about his game plan. “I say that I am a level above him because I believe that I have faced a level of opponents who are above him during my career. Of course, that is in spite of the fact that he has beaten one of the opponents who beat me,” adding that he still believes he won against Matias.
Puello still has plenty of gas in the tank at age 32, but he’s a steady grinder rather than a knockout puncher. Smith had dropped his last six opponents, and stopped all but one of them. He has put together a 74% knockout rate with little fanfare.
No one should be surprised anymore to see Smith take out on an opponent. Puello has never been stopped. If Smith can do it, it would be a significant accomplishment and give him leverage to set up a unification fight in the first half of 2027, possibly against Stevenson.
Undercard Matchups from Sheffield
Several undercard fights are worth your attention.
British super flyweight rivals Shannon Ryan (11-1, 2 KOs) and Emma Dolan of Nottingham (9-1, 1 KO) will meet in a rematch of Dolan’s upset win over Ryan in June 2024. Since then, Dolan lost her bid for the IBF World Super Flyweight title in April against Irma Garcia of Mexico, but has bounced back with a decision win.
After Ryan lost the British and Commonwealth titles to Dolan, she’s been on a winning streak with four victories, two by knockout, winning back the Commonwealth title. Now the British title in Dolan’s hands will also be on the line.
“I need to right that wrong in order to move on and fight for the world championship,” said Ryan, who is ranked number one and in line to be the IBF mandatory challenger to Irma Garcia..
“Yes, I am number one. But for me to really feel and know that I am number one, I simply have to right this wrong and then push on for what is next.”
Ryan says she’s a different person than the woman who lost to Dolan.
“I think everyone can see that my boxing has improved tremendously since then, too. I’ll be bringing the same aggression, the same chaos. But I am a better boxer. As long as I listen to my team, I believe that I can win this fight in any way I want it to go. I can get the win by any means.”
Dolan is delighted to have the rematch on British soil on a British championship card. “I feel really, really good, I’ve had a great camp and I’m looking forward to making it 2-0. I feel like I have improved a lot and I am definitely a better version of myself going into this fight,” said Dolan.
Veteran and fan favorite Maxi Hughes isn’t quite done with boxing. The 36-year-old from Yorkshire (29-9-2, 6 KOs) will test lightweight prospect Giorgio Visioli of Hampshire (11-0, 6 KOs).
Hughes says you can call him the “Matchroom Exterminator.” He defeated Kid Galahad and Gary Cully, both considered rising talents. Joking with promoter Eddie Hearn, Hughes said, “I’m not sure what Giorgio has done to upset you, but maybe you’ve brought me here to get rid of him.”
Hughes said he feels good after a full camp and not fighting on short notice. Hughes says the pressure is all on Visioli. “I am his biggest fight. I expect nothing less. We’ll see if he’s got it in him when the bell goes, under the lights, against someone like myself, because I’ve been there and done it around the world, against many different styles. I have the experience and I’ve done it the hard way, most of the time in the away corner.”
Visioli confirmed that Hughes was the first name offered to him, and he said yes without hesitation. “You might call it ego, but it’s not ego. You’re allowed self-belief in this sport, but I think some people don’t like that. If I believe in myself, then I’ll take the opportunity.
“But for me to push on in my career then I think the stoppage is there. It’s a must do and that is what I am going to do.”
Also on the card, bright young heavyweight Leo Atang of Yorkshire (9-0, 8 KOs) will face Jonathan Exequiel Vergara of Argentina (9-4, 5 KOs). Assuming there isn’t a shocking loss, Atang is also penciled in for the annual fight card in Monte Carlo on December 12, an important career showcase.
“We have a great schedule coming up in what is one of the busiest periods of the year and it all gets underway this Saturday night in Sheffield,” said Hearn, who said he’s particularly looking forward to the Visioli vs Hughes matchup.
“(Hughes) seems to be looking younger every time I see him and will be rolling the dice once more in what is a huge fight.”