Boxing Apr 30, 2026

Dalton Smith ruled out of WBC super-lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello after suffering injury in training camp

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Dalton Smith ruled out of WBC super-lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello after suffering injury in training camp

Dalton Smith has been ruled out of his WBC super-lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello after he sustained an injury in camp.

The fight was supposed to headline on June 6 in Smith's hometown of Sheffield and mark the first defence of his title following his win over Subriel Matias in January.

Smith joined British compatriots Fabio Wardley (heavyweight), Lewis Crocker (welterweight), Jazza Dickens (super-featherweight) and Nick Ball (featherweight) as a current male world champion with the win.

However, with Smith's fight now off, Galal Yafai's WBC and WBA world flyweight unification championship challenge against Ricardo Sandoval will now headline at the Utilita Arena.

The 28-year-old maintained his unbeaten career record with an emphatic fifth‑round knockout of Matias in Brooklyn to capture the belt.

It was a right hook that dropped Puerto Rico's Matias and extended Smith's record to 19-0 as the referee called for the stoppage, despite Matias attempting to get to his feet.

He had rocked his opponent with another right hand earlier in the same round.

Smith's debut fight on American soil was in danger after Matias tested positive for a banned substance last November, but it was decided a month later that the 33-year-old was not guilty of violating the drug policy.

Matias' uppercuts and combination punches challenged Smith early on but the Brit rallied as the dethroned champion was knocked out for the first time and saw his record as a pro dip to 23-3.

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Ben Whittaker knocks out Braian Suarez in first round before announcing US debut on Jaron Ennis and Xander Zayas show

Ben Whittaker knocks out Braian Suarez in first round before announcing US debut on Jaron Ennis and Xander Zayas show

Ben Whittaker knocked out Braian Suarez inside one round to take another step towards the biggest names in the light heavyweight division on Saturday....

David Haye: Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury both need each other - 'That's the biggest fight they could both possibly have'

David Haye: Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury both need each other - 'That's the biggest fight they could both possibly have'

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury must finally agree to fight, says former world heavyweight champion David Haye.Haye, a two-weight world titlist, was the...

Sam Gilley: I will fight anyone else in the world, but I will never give Louis Greene a rematch. That one is a no go

Sam Gilley: I will fight anyone else in the world, but I will never give Louis Greene a rematch. That one is a no go

Sam Gilley puts a nightmare year behind him when he steps up to middleweight to fight Aston Brown in Glasgow on Friday.Gilley, a former Commonwealth c...

Alycia Baumgardner on Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and Mikaela Mayer: 'Three great fights - let’s get them all!'

Alycia Baumgardner on Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and Mikaela Mayer: 'Three great fights - let’s get them all!'

Alycia Baumgardner will chase fights with the biggest names in the sport.Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano and Mikaela Mayer are all targets for the curren...

Lennox Lewis: 'Great' champion Oleksandr Usyk is a worthy successor - 'He's done it all. He's sacrificed'

Lennox Lewis: 'Great' champion Oleksandr Usyk is a worthy successor - 'He's done it all. He's sacrificed'

Lennox Lewis sees Oleksandr Usyk as a worthy successor as a "great" heavyweight world champion.Usyk became the first undisputed world heavyweight cham...

Ellie Scotney reveals what went wrong before her undisputed triumph - ‘Surely I get fighter of the year!’

Ellie Scotney reveals what went wrong before her undisputed triumph - ‘Surely I get fighter of the year!’

“Surely I get fighter of the year!”After an incredible 10 rounds of unrestrained action, Ellie Scotney beat Mayelli Flores on Easter Sunday.It is hard...