Dalton Smith Expected To Defend WBC Title October 24

The bout is expected to headline a Matchroom Boxing event after its original June 6 date was postponed when Smith suffered an elbow injury during training camp. The undefeated British champion was forced to withdraw before fight week, delaying his first defense of the WBC belt.

Smith has quickly emerged as one of Britain’s leading contenders at 140 pounds. The Sheffield native captured the vacant WBC title earlier this year and will now have the opportunity to defend it in front of his hometown fans if the revised date is finalized.

Puello, a former world titleholder from the Dominican Republic, earned the mandatory title shot after remaining among the division’s top-ranked contenders. Before traveling to England, he is scheduled to face Miguel Ángel Bolaño in a 10-round stay-busy fight on July 18 in Santo Domingo.

The Smith-Puello matchup has been viewed as one of the division’s most significant championship bouts outside of the United States. A victory for Smith would further strengthen his position among the elite light welterweights, while Puello will look to regain a world title by handing the unbeaten champion the first defeat of his professional career.

Neither Matchroom Boxing nor the WBC has formally announced the rescheduled date, but Rafael reported the fight is expected to move forward on Oct. 24 in Sheffield.