Dalton Smith is scheduled to make the first defence of his WBC light-welterweight world title against former champion Alberto Puello on Saturday, 24 October, fighting in his home city of Sheffield.
The 29-year-old enters the bout at the Utilita Arena with an undefeated record of 19 victories, including 14 knockouts. Smith secured the belt nine months ago in New York, where he travelled to Brooklyn in January and stopped Puerto Rican puncher Subriel Matias in the fifth round with a right hand, handing Matias the first stoppage defeat of his professional career.
The clash with Puello was originally scheduled for June at the same venue, but a training injury sustained by Smith forced the mandatory defence to be delayed.
Puello, a 32-year-old southpaw from the Dominican Republic, brings a record of 25 wins and one loss, with 11 stoppages. He previously captured the WBA belt against Batyr Akhmedov in 2022 and picked up the WBC interim belt by defeating Gary Antuanne Russell. After being elevated to full champion and beating Sandor Martin, Puello lost the title to Matias via majority decision in July 2025.
A victory over Puello would clear the path for Smith toward potential unification bouts or major domestic clashes. The light-welterweight division currently features Shakur Stevenson as the WBO champion and Russell holding the WBA title, while the IBF belt remains vacant. Undefeated London contender Adam Azim, who holds a 15-0 record, also represents a prospective future domestic rival.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has raised the possibility of Smith eventually headlining at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium if his profile keeps expanding, while Smith has expressed a desire to develop the kind of following once commanded by Ricky Hatton.
The undercard in Sheffield features a clash between Giorgio Visioli and Maxi Hughes for the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title, as well as a super-flyweight meeting between Shannon Ryan and Emma Dolan for the British, Commonwealth and IBF Inter-Continental belts.
