Sheffield Wednesday in talks over Hillsborough blockbuster for Dalton Smith
Dalton Smith is in action in Sheffield this weekend but as ever he harbours a dream of fighting at Hillsborough
Eddie Hearn has confirmed that talks with Sheffield Wednesday are continuing over a potential blockbuster fight at Hillsborough for Dalton Smith, should the Sheffield fighter successfully defend his WBC super-lightweight world title against Alberto Puello on Saturday.
Hearn also believes Smith’s stunning victory over Subriel Matias in New York was “one of the top wins on away soil by a British fighter of all time."
The Handsworth warrior returns to his home city for the first defence of the championship he captured with a sensational fifth-round stoppage of Matias at Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre in January.
Puello, a former two-time world champion from the Dominican Republic, now stands between him and the next stage of his ambitions. The fight takes place at Sheffield Arena, live on DAZN.
“This is a brilliant fight,” Hearn told Matchroom Boxing's YouTube channel. “It is one of the fights of the year on British soil. It is a very, very, very tough homecoming defence.”
The Matchroom chairman explained that the mandatory challenge followed the WBC’s decision that the winner of Matias against Smith would have to face Puello.
The Dominican had previously suffered a closely contested defeat to Matias, making Saturday’s showdown an important opportunity for both men to strengthen their claims in a competitive division.
Hearn believes Smith deserves considerable credit for taking on another elite opponent rather than enjoying a more straightforward return after his demanding assignment in America.
“Historically, you would get an easier one after having to fight Matias in New York,” he said. “But that just shows you the ability and skill of Dalton Smith.”
The promoter was particularly impressed by the way Smith overcame Matias, admitting the contest developed into a battle he had not expected. Smith had been tipped to use his technical skills to outbox the heavy-handed Puerto Rican, but instead found himself trading punches under intense pressure before delivering the decisive finish.
“I was watching the fight thinking, ‘This is not how we want things to go,’” Hearn recalled.
“It was an all-out war, and Dalton was under a huge amount of pressure. But he just bit down on his gumshield and basically smashed Matias to pieces in his own game.”
For Hearn, the victory demonstrated that Smith possesses more than the technical ability that had already marked him out as one of Britain’s finest prospects. Stopping a renowned puncher in his own backyard was a defining achievement, and the promoter believes it deserves a place among the country's greatest performances overseas.
“The way that he did it, picking up a WBC world title, I feel like he deserves a huge amount of credit for that win,” Hearn said.
He added that the performance was particularly impressive because Smith had succeeded in a manner he had not anticipated, turning the fight into a physical contest and emerging victorious.
Puello, however, presents a different challenge. Hearn described the challenger as a “real elite guy”, warning that his awkward style could make life difficult for the champion. The Dominican also possesses punching power, meaning Smith must find a way to take control without allowing his opponent to dictate the terms of the contest.
“Style-wise, Puello can be extremely awkward. He can punch a bit as well,” Hearn said. “I think, with Puello, Dalton needs to be aggressive. You can’t let him old-man you in there.”
The promoter expects Smith to make his home advantage count, suggesting the champion could adopt a more aggressive approach than some observers anticipate.
Victory would strengthen his standing in the 140lb division and provide a compelling argument for his credentials against the very best in the weight class.
“I believe that Dalton Smith has every claim to be the top 140lbs fighter in the world right now,” Hearn said. “Back-to-back victories over Matias and Puello would be a fantastic run on his résumé.”
Beyond Saturday, the prospect of a major event at Hillsborough offers further motivation.
Hearn confirmed that discussions with Sheffield Wednesday are ongoing, with the ambition of staging a significant fight at Smith’s beloved football club, potentially against another world champion in a unification contest.
“A fight at Hillsborough is a real carrot. We are having big conversations with the club about a fight,” Hearn revealed.
“We would love to bring over a big name for it in what would hopefully be a unification fight.
“A big Dalton Smith fight at Hillsborough would be sensational,” Hearn said.
First, Smith must overcome Puello and prove that his breakthrough victory in New York was the start of a sustained run at the summit of the super-lightweight division.