New world champion Dalton Smith stuns Subriel Matias in New York
Plus, Kabayel KOs Knyba and a few newsworthy nibbles
Subriel Matias Loses TKO 5 Dalton Smith
Dalton Smith is the new WBC super-lightweight champion. The Sheffield man walked through fire to stop Subriel Matias in round five at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn.
Smith didn’t follow the Liam Paro blueprint, instead opting to stand inside and duke it out with Matias. This made for a better fight. Smith was cut and looked naturally fatigued at times. However, he looked like the bigger man and dismissed an opponent who entered off the back of a win over Alberto Puello.
At his peak, Matias was a monster, but the Puerto Rican’s mystique has now disappeared. The matter of his failed drug test loomed large over proceedings as well. Promoter Eddie Hearn reckons he’ll now secure Smith a stadium fight. Let’s hope he delivers.
Either way, Smith is all set to grab some big paydays, with unifications a possibility. A domestic dust-up with Adam Azim is also an intriguing prospect. For now, Dalton definitely deserves his moment in the limelight.
Agit Kabayel Wins TKO 3 Damian Knyba
Earlier in the evening, top heavyweight contender Kabayel successfully defended his WBC Interim title inside a raucous German arena. Kabayel started fast, delighting the fans with a body attack and stiff jab.
Once he found the right hand, the writing was on the wall for big Pole Knyba, although I wasn’t fussed on the stoppage. Knyba was dazed, but an unbeaten fighter in a supposed world title fight should’ve been given more of a chance to recover before referee Mark Lyson called it off.
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Other news and notes from the past week…
Belfast’s IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker wanted to make a title defence in late April against old victim Conah Walker. The sanctioning body, however, rejected the request as Crocker needs to defend against Aussie challenger Liam Paro.
Matchroom and Paro’s representatives will now look to thrash out a deal for that fight, or perhaps Hearn will pursue a unification. Crocker’s old coach, Billy Nelson, was keen on a bout with Devin Haney.
Zuffa Boxing are pitching Irish prospect Callum Walsh in with Carlos Ocampo at the end of January on Paramount+. Walsh is a fine up-and-coming boxer and Ocampo is a respectable former world title challenger, but I expected a little more of a debut bang from Dana White’s Zuffa outfit.
WBA interim light-heavyweight title holder Albert Ramirez will defend his belt against England’s Lerrone Richards on February 5 in Montreal.
Image Credit: Fresh Promotions.
About Steve…
Current existence: Boxing writer, eLearning educator.
Previous lives: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine. Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com
I love the stunning ones.