Dalton Smith to make first WBC light‑welterweight defence against Alberto Puello in Sheffield on October 24
Dalton Smith will defend his WBC light-welterweight title against mandatory challenger Alberto Puello at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Saturday, 24 October, returning to his home city nine months after stopping Subriel Matias in New York. The 29-year-old champion remains unbeaten ahead of his first defence while Puello, 32, arrives as a former WBA and WBC titleholder.
The clash was originally scheduled for June at the Utilita Arena but was postponed after Smith sustained an injury in training. Smith progressed through the domestic ranks with English, British, Commonwealth and European honours before travelling to Brooklyn in January to face Matias, stopping the previously undefeated Puerto Rican in the fifth round; that remains Matias’s only professional stoppage loss. Puello’s only professional defeat came against Matias, and he is Smith’s mandatory challenger for this defence.
Live text coverage will begin at 21:00 BST on Saturday, 24 October on the BBC Sport website and app, with radio commentary from London starting at 22:00 on BBC Radio 5 Live. Stacey Copeland will present the broadcast, joined by lead commentator Ronald McIntosh, with Steve Bunce and Richie Woodhall providing co-commentary; the main televised broadcast is scheduled to start at about 19:00 and arena doors will open at 16:00.
The undercard features Giorgio Visioli v Maxi Hughes for the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title and Shannon Ryan v Emma Dolan for the British, Commonwealth and IBF Inter-Continental super-flyweight titles. Other scheduled bouts include Edward Hardy v Ibrahim Nadim (super-featherweight), Aqib Fiaz v Jordan Flynn (super-featherweight), Joe Hayden v Will Harrison (welterweight), Chris Mulunda v Harley Collison (middleweight) and two billed matchups with opponents listed as TBA: Leo Atang (heavyweight) and Connor Mitchell (super-featherweight).
Smith arrived at world level by defeating Matias in New York, having chosen to trade with one of the division’s most feared punchers; Matias had entered that fight with 22 stoppages from 23 wins. Smith dropped Matias with a right hand in the fifth round before the referee halted the contest, taking Smith’s record to 19 wins, 14 of them by stoppage.
Puello brings a record of 25 wins from 26 professional fights with 11 knockouts and has twice held versions of a world title. He won the WBA belt by beating Batyr Akhmedov in 2022, later defeated Gary Antuanne Russell to claim the WBC interim title, was elevated to full WBC champion, beat Sandor Martin and then lost the belt to Matias by majority decision in July 2025; stylistically he is described as a slick southpaw who relies on movement, speed and counter-punching.
In the wider light-welterweight picture, Shakur Stevenson holds the WBO title, Gary Antuanne Russell is WBA champion and the IBF title is vacant. A domestic rivalry with unbeaten Londoner Adam Azim (15-0) has been noted, with Smith having moved ahead by securing a recognised world title; promoter Eddie Hearn has previously discussed the possibility of Smith headlining at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium and Smith has spoken about wanting to build the kind of travelling support enjoyed by Ricky Hatton.
Smith and Puello are expected to make their ringwalks at about 22:00 BST on fight night, though the exact time will depend on the length of the undercard.