Dalton Smith Defends WBC Belt vs Alberto Puello

Dalton Smith is making the first defense of his WBC super lightweight title against former champion Alberto Puello today in Sheffield, England, in a rematch of sorts with the man his title run was built on beating.

Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) won the belt in January by stopping Subriel Matias, who had taken a controversial majority decision over Puello back in July 2025. Now Puello gets his chance to reclaim the title directly from the fighter who took it from his conqueror, in Smith's hometown, at Utilita Arena. The fight was originally booked for the summer before a Smith injury pushed it back, and after months of delay it finally goes off live on DAZN.

Why This Fight Matters for the 140-Pound Division

Smith enters as the undefeated hometown champion, but Puello (25-1, 11 KOs) is not a typical voluntary defense. He is a former two-time titleholder who many felt deserved the decision over Matias last July, and the number one-ranked WBC contender. A win here does more than keep Smith's belt in Sheffield, it validates his title reign against a boxer who arguably has a better recent resume at 140 pounds than the man Smith actually beat for the strap. For Puello, this is a direct path back to a world title he never lost in the ring, only on a scorecard he and plenty of observers disputed.

The co-main sees Giorgio Visioli take on Maxi Hughes at lightweight, while Emma Dolan and Shannon Ryan run it back in a 10-round super flyweight rematch with Dolan's British title and Ryan's Commonwealth title both on the line.

Betting Angle

Sportsbooks have made Smith a solid favorite heading into the fight, with his price sitting in the range of minus-195 to minus-200 and Puello getting back odds around plus-150 to plus-155. That line reflects the obvious edges Smith carries: he is unbeaten, he is fighting at home in front of a partisan Sheffield crowd, and he is coming off the best win of his career. But the gap is not overwhelming, and bettors shouldn't read this as a mismatch. Puello is a sharp counter-punching southpaw who many had winning his last fight before a title changed hands on paper rather than in dominant fashion. A layoff from the original summer date and the pressure of a true road atmosphere are real question marks for Smith, and value hunters may find more appeal in live Puello action or in round-count markets than simply backing the short favorite straight up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Dalton Smith fighting in his first WBC title defense?

Dalton Smith is defending his WBC super lightweight title against former two-time champion Alberto Puello in Sheffield, England.

How did Dalton Smith win the WBC super lightweight title?

Dalton Smith won the WBC super lightweight title in January by stopping Subriel Matias, who had previously beaten Alberto Puello by a disputed majority decision.

What are the odds for Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello?

Sportsbooks have listed Dalton Smith as a favorite in the range of roughly minus-195 to minus-200, with Alberto Puello priced near plus-150 to plus-155 as an underdog.