When on Saturday Dalton Smith challenges Subriel Matias for the WBC junior-welterweight title, he is fighting to become part of the fabric of British boxing.
The 28 year old has long been recognised as one of Britain’s most promising fighters. At a time when the British fight scene is at a low ebb he also has the opportunity to deliver to it a considerable high.
Smith, from Sheffield, entered the final preparations for the contest at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York at a time when Giant, the film about the late, great Brendan Ingle and “Prince” Naseem Hamed – the Steel City’s most celebrated fight figures – is receiving considerable attention. His preparations for the 33-year-old Matias also started with the death of the late, great Ricky Hatton – the most celebrated of all of Britain’s fighters, and a former junior-welterweight world champion – fresh in his mind.
The heavy-handed Matias, of Puerto Rico, is making the first defence of the title he won in July in victory over Alberto Puello. By fighting in a city with a thriving Puerto Rican population he has been presented with home advantage, but Smith will also know that New York, against Kevin Kelley in 1997, is where Hamed had his most memorable night.
In the slipstream of Hatton at junior welterweight fellow Britons Amir Khan and Josh Taylor also won world titles. Taylor’s retirement in 2025 contributed to the sense of drift in British boxing; Smith, so close to Sunny Edwards – another decorated recent retiree – can become a similarly significant figure by leading the rebuild.
“I’m so proud to be from Sheffield,” Smith told BoxingScene. “It’s a proper fighting city and to become the next world champion from here means the world to me.
“Hatton [also] inspired me when I was a kid, so of course it’s added motivation. I’m boxing for the 140lbs title right now so soon after his death, of course it’s motivating.
“Ricky inspired me when I was a kid – I’ve spoken a lot about that over the years. I’m bringing a good fan base to the US and one day dream of delivering fans the kind of nights that he did both at home and the US. There’s only one Ricky Hatton.”
Smith’s arrival in New York was delayed by the cancellation of a flight that meant him travelling separately from his father and trainer Grant.
“We were due to get a flight on Saturday but woke up to the news that it had been cancelled,” he said. “It really wasn’t that bad as Sean [O’Toole, my adviser] took care of all of that and got all of our flights changed without really impacting my prep. I arrived a day later and as there weren’t many flights available I did travel alone, but had everything put on a plate and my dad met me at the airport in New York. The rest of the team turned up Monday. I am settled well here.
“I’ve been to plenty of huge nights [including of Edwards’] over the years. I’m well prepared to know what to expect.”
Asked of Matias’ abilities at a time when the former IBF champion divides opinion, he responded: “He is good enough to be a two-time world champion with an impressive knockout record. But to become a world champion in a weight division as stacked as this then you know you have to beat a Matias. Soon people will be asking the challengers ‘How good is Dalton Smith?’ and the answer will be ‘Good enough to have beaten Matias and be world champion’.
“Matias lost to [Liam] Paro in front of 10,000 home fans [in Puerto Rico], so let’s not read too much in to home advantage. I need to make sure I perform no matter what the environment and I’m sure I will do. All I’ll say is that I’m so touched by the few hundred travelling fans from back home who I’m sure will make themselves heard.
“Whether his promoters [Fresh Productions] overlook me is irrelevant. I’m sure Matias and his team know how good I am and will have left no stone unturned in their preparations.
“I opened [2025 with victory over Walid Ouizza] picking up the EBU title which I was gutted thinking I’d have to miss, and then got 12 rounds against [Mathieu] Germain in April. From there it was all about securing my title shot which I’ve done.
“There are absolutely no plans [after this]. When I’m champion then we will sit down as a team and make plans for what’s next.
“I’m buzzing for Saturday night and promise to bring the title home.”
