Dalton Smith: Sheffield's new boxing world champion's 'fairytale' journey
It is a story that will be told for years to come.
The tale of a six-year-old Sheffield kid pulling on boxing gloves at the same time his father was learning the art of coaching.
An unlikely pairing to become world champions, perhaps – but that is the true-life story of Dalton Smith and his dad Grant.
When Dalton knocked out Subriel Matías to earn the WBC super lightweight title in New York on Saturday, his old man was the first through the ropes to embrace him.
It was a wonderful, life-defining moment for both.
To put it into perspective: This was a one-time kitchen fitter coaching his own son to secure a WBC championship belt on US soil.
It is almost unthinkable. A yarn almost as spectacular as the Naseem Hamed-Brendan Ingle saga 'Giant' that is currently doing the cinematic rounds.
After his dramatic win over Matias, Dalton said his Dad "deserved every little bit of credit" for a man who was "a self-taught boxing coach."
He proudly stated that the WBC accolade was "for me and him."
Previously, he has put his finger on how his professional relationship with Grant works: "One thing you get with my Dad is loyalty; he is not in it for himself. I believe my Dad’s one of the best coaches to read a fight."
Now the partnership can go on from strength to strength.
However, Smith junior won't accept just any fighter for his first defence - possibly a message to domestic rival Adam Azim.
In an interview with Sportsman Boxing he said: "I am one of the boys at the 140 pound division now.
"I am ready to be a part in all the big fights, but I am a world champion.
"The other fighters need to prove and earn their stripes. I have done that."
Other fighters on their own journey will have to "prove and earn your spot at that level because I have done it the hard way, I've took the hard challenges."
The 28-year-old from Handsworth added he wasn't going to give potential opponents easy access to a world title contest.
He had "won every belt in boxing and won, for me, the best belt, WBC world title, and I have not done it the easy way.
"I have not took international titles to blag my way into a mandatory position.
"I fought whoever I needed to fight to get there and I fought probably the most dangerous man in the division...one of the most avoided."
DALTON AND GRANT SMITH'S PATHWAY TO GREATNESS
Amateur:
2014: European Youth Championships silver
2015: Commonwealth Youth Games bronze
2018: ABA Championships winner
Professional:
2021: English super-lightweight title
2022: WBC International Silver super-lightweight title
2022: British super-lightweight title
2023: Commonwealth super-lightweight title
2024–2025: WBC Silver super-lightweight title
2025: EBU European super-lightweight title
2026: WBC world super-lightweight title.