Dennis Hobson makes Dalton Smith prediction ahead of Alberto Puello clash
Sheffield star Dalton Smith back in the ring on October 24 when he takes on Alberto Puello at the Utilita Arena
Dalton Smith will knock out Alberto Puello in eight rounds.
That's the confident prediction from Sheffield boxing promoter Dennis Hobson, ahead of Smith's WBC super lightweight title defence at the Arena on October 24.
In today's Hobson column for The Star, Dennis also touches on Misfits, the state of boxing in his home city, and the enigma that is Ben Whittaker.
What do you make of Dalton Smith’s chances against Alberto Puello?
Dalton is one of the kids who, out of anybody, I would have loved to have managed and helped progress. Obviously, it wasn’t to be, but I’ve still got a lot of respect for him.
I saw him the other week at a Sheffield Wednesday match and we had a little photograph together and embraced each other, so there’s a lot of respect there.
I’m not saying I’d have done a worse job or a better job with Dalton.
He’s had to do it the hard way though, and if you look at some of the fighters I’ve been involved with whenever I’ve got them to world titles I’ve got them home territory.
I’ve done it all on a lot less resource than what he’s had behind him, but he’s shown his worth. He’s done it the hard way.
I see this fight as Dalton having too much for him. I think Dalton’s quality will tell and he’ll stop him within eight rounds.
Is Misfits Boxing good for boxing?
I don’t really care for it. No, I think we’re diluting the concept of boxing. People like Clinton Woods were a traditional fighter who went down the route of Central Area, Commonwealth, British, European and then world champion. But when you’ve got someone on a Misfits show earning a lot more than a bona fide boxer, there’s something wrong.
If I could earn some money doing it, would I? Yes, I’m a businessman. But my sole purpose would be to strengthen it so I could support some of the kids who I manage towards becoming English, British, Commonwealth, European or world champions.
That’s all I’d use it for, because I’m a purist. I love the traditional game. I don’t just want to be a white-collar promoter making a few quid. I’ve also said that money comes and goes but memories last forever.
I suppose it might get people interested in the sport who wouldn’t normally, and there’s a bit of theatre, but I’m worried it detracts from the proper game. Maybe some fighters will go, ‘I’ll have a pop at Misfits,’ instead of going down the traditional route.
We all know WWE isn’t real, but you get the theatre and it’s so well coordinated that you’ll swallow it. But some of the quality in Misfits is terrible.
You were interviewed in The Star recently about the reduced number of professional shows in Sheffield. Any update?
Our next show will be on November 28 at Skate Central in Sheffield. There’ll be four from our gym on, which celebrates
its 10th anniversary in December. John (Fewkes) has done an absolutely amazing job, and we’ve got a conveyor belt of kids trying to come through. We’re working with some kids who’ve maybe not had the best start but are giving them some purpose in life, it’s amazing to see and one of the reasons why I’m staying in the game.
I’m working with people like Glenn Banks and hoping to sit down with Robert Riley to see if we can do one or two bits with him, so we start to pull together and work together. I don’t need all the pie.
Like I’ve always said, I’m happy for us to have a piece of the pie and share the rest.
Will Ben Whittaker ever be a world champion?
I like him. I think he’s great for the game, but I think he needs to get his head down.
He showed his quality when he stopped Liam Cameron, one of my ex-fighters. He took Liam to pieces but I think after that performance again, he started to get too distracted. Tyson Fury has done that at times, it becomes too much about the showmanship. I think he needs to get his head down and knuckle down.
You’ve got to pick your moments. He wants to showboat all the time, and he got caught and he got weakened. A good performance ended up almost catastrophic.
Hopefully he’s learned from that though. I wish I had him because I believe, like I did with Ricky Hatton — bless him — that I could get the trust there. I’d manoeuvre him in the right direction and get his mindset on the right path. I think if he gets that, he’ll win a version of a world title.