Dalton Smith to defend WBC light-welterweight title in Sheffield against Alberto Puello
The Briton became world champion in New York in January with a fifth-round stoppage of Subriel Matias
Dalton Smith will make the first defence of his WBC light-welterweight title in his home city of Sheffield against Dominican boxer Alberto Puello on June 6.
The Briton became world champion in New York in January with a fifth-round stoppage of Subriel Matias, who was defending the title for the first time since dethroning Puello in July last year.
Puello, though, is a two-time world champion at 140lb and fights from an awkward southpaw stance so Smith, who has won all 19 of his professional bouts with 14 inside the distance, says he will be on his guard.
“New York was a trip of a lifetime, but now it’s about bringing big world title fights to Sheffield and it’s great to start my reign as champion back at the Utilita Arena,” Smith said.
“It’s straight into a mandatory defence. There’s no denying Puello’s a top boxer. But I went to New York as the away fighter and went toe-to-toe with the supposed bogeyman who had just beaten Puello – that’s what we’re about in Sheffield: full of heart and nuts of steel.”