Dalton Smith retains title in tense affair against Alberto Puello at Sheffield Arena

Dalton Smith retained his WBC World Super Lightweight Title after a hard fought battle with Alberto Puello at Utilita Arena Sheffield.

Sheffield Wednesday fan Smith won on a split decision in what was a tight fight with the Dominican challenger.

And now, promoter Eddie Hearn has thrown the door open for a potential future fight at Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium, with some of the Owls’ new ownership in attendance.

The two fighters traded blows throughout the 12 rounds, with not much to separate the two.

But Smith, 29, came out as narrow victor in a split decision.

The judges scores showed just how close this fight was. England's Kieran McCann and Spain's Jon Llona both scored it 115-113 to Dalton Smith. Filipino judge Ray Danseco had it 116-112 to Puello.

The pace was unrelenting from first bell to last in a see-saw battle as both fighters exchanged punishing combinations and while Smith was cut above the right eye in the 10th round, neither fighter was able to take control.

Smith has now beaten the world’s best two light-welterweights – he won the title by stopping Puerto Rica’s Subriel Matias in January in New York – and promoter Hearn is hoping to stage Smith’s next fight at Hillsborough.

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