Dalton Smith has been installed as the mandatory challenger for the WBC junior-welterweight title.
The 28 year old in January won the vacant European title when stopping France’s Walid Ouizza inside a round, and he will be rewarded later in 2025 by fighting for the world title held by Alberto Puello of the Dominican Republic.
Puello makes the first defense of his title against Spain’s Sandor Martin on March 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, on the undercard of Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach Jnr. The winner of their contest will be permitted to make a voluntary defense of their title. Smith’s opportunity would then follow.
“The WBC Board of Governors has voted in favor to appoint Dalton Smith as mandatory contender in the super-lightweight division,” according to the sanctioning body’s president Mauricio Sulaiman.
“The winner of Puello vs Martin will have a voluntary defense and then must meet the mandatory contender immediately next.”