British fighters have rarely done well when forced to leave home comforts in pursuit of world titles.
History shows that when a Brit travels abroad to challenge an established champion – often in hostile territory, with judges and crowds stacked against them – the odds are usually unforgiving.
That is what made Dalton Smith’s stunning fifth-round stoppage of Subriel Matias at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Saturday so significant. Matias was a destructive champion, and Smith was widely viewed as the underdog heading into enemy territory. Instead, the Sheffield man delivered a career-defining performance to claim the WBC junior welterweight title in emphatic fashion.
Smith now joins a small, elite group of British fighters who have crossed oceans, silenced crowds, and claimed world titles in the champion’s backyard. But where does his victory rank among the very best?
Here, BoxingScene looks back at the Top 10 British world title wins in enemy territory, with one simple rule: the Brit must have traveled as the challenger to face a reigning champion on away soil.
Tyson Fury def. Wladimir Klitschko
Düsseldorf, Germany, 2015
Few fancied Tyson Fury’s chances when he traveled to Germany to challenge long-reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF, WBA and WBO titles. Klitschko, a Ukraine native, had turned Germany into a fortress, going unbeaten in 22 fights since his shock knockout loss to Lamon Brewster in 2004.
Fury made a mockery of the pre-fight odds, outboxing Klitschko with an awkward, disciplined performance that left Klitschko bamboozled. There were nerves as Fury awaited the official result, but the judges were fair and awarded Fury the win by unanimous decision, bringing an end to one of the heavyweight division’s longest reigns.
Lloyd Honeyghan def. Donald Curry
Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1986
Lloyd Honeyghan traveled to Atlantic City as a massive underdog to challenge the undefeated Donald Curry for the undisputed welterweight championship. Curry was widely regarded as one of the finest fighters in the world at the time, entering the bout at 25-0 and sitting near the top of the pound-for-pound rankings.
Honeyghan overwhelmed Curry with relentless pressure, forcing the champion onto the back foot and stunning those in attendance. The beating that Honeyghan inflicted on Curry was so bad that the champion opted not to come out for the seventh after six one-sided rounds, handing Honeyghan one of the greatest upset victories in British boxing history.
Kell Brook def. Shawn Porter
Carson, California, 2014
Kell Brook traveled to California to challenge the undefeated Shawn Porter for the IBF welterweight title, stepping into hostile territory against a champion known for his relentless pressure and physicality. Porter entered the bout 24-0-1 and was widely expected to overpower the Sheffield man in front of a home American crowd.
Instead, Brook delivered a disciplined and intelligent performance, using sharp counterpunching to tame the aggressive Porter. There were worries if the judges would prefer Brook’s flashy counters over Porter’s work rate, but Brook was awarded a unanimous decision victory, capturing his first and only world title on away soil.
Dalton Smith def. Subriel Matías
New York City, 2025
Dalton Smith traveled to New York as a clear underdog to challenge Subriel Matias for the WBC junior welterweight title. Matias had built a reputation as one of boxing’s most destructive punchers, stopping all but two of his previous opponents. To add to the daunting task at hand, Matias had also tested positive for the banned substance ostarine in the buildup, but he was cleared to fight by the WBC due to the amount being within the legal threshold.
Smith went on to produce a career-defining performance, taking the fight to Matias from the first bell. Many thought Smith’s tactics were ludicrous, but the Brit landed three clean right hands in Round 5 that sunk Matias to the canvas. The referee waved off the action, much to the Puerto Rican’s dismay, and awarded Smith a sensational stoppage victory on away soil.
Joe Calzaghe def. Bernard Hopkins
Las Vegas, Nevada, 2008
Joe Calzaghe traveled to Las Vegas to challenge Bernard Hopkins for The Ring light heavyweight championship, moving up from 168lbs to face one of the finest fighters of the modern era. It marked Calzaghe’s first fight in the United States, and the intrigue was heightened further by Hopkins’ pre-fight remarks, declaring, “I’ll never let a white boy beat me.”
Despite suffering an early knockdown, Calzaghe regrouped and used his superior work rate to edge the crafty Hopkins down the stretch. After 12 hard-fought rounds, Calzaghe was awarded a split decision victory.
Tyson Fury def. Deontay Wilder II
Las Vegas, Nevada, 2020
Few backed Tyson Fury when his tactics were revealed ahead of his second meeting with Deontay Wilder. A year earlier, Fury had come agonizingly close to dethroning the WBC heavyweight titleholder with his elusive style, only for the fight to be ruled a controversial split draw. This time, Fury announced he would meet Wilder – one of the hardest-hitting fighters in boxing history – center ring, with the intention of knocking his rival out.
Almost everyone doubted Fury had the power to pull it off, but instead he delivered one of the most dominant performances of the modern heavyweight era. Fury pressured Wilder from the opening bell, repeatedly dropping the champion, who appeared stunned by what was unfolding. The fight was stopped in the seventh round, as Fury secured the WBC title in emphatic fashion and produced one of the most commanding away-soil victories ever recorded by a British fighter.
Nigel Benn def. Mauro Galvano I
Milan, Italy, 1989
Nigel Benn traveled to Milan, stepping into hostile territory to challenge Italian WBC super middleweight titleholder Mauro Galvano. Galvano was expected to use his size and experience to blunt Benn’s aggression, with the Brit considered on the small side following his move up from 160lbs.
The bout proved short-lived. A vicious right hand from Benn in Round 3 opened a deep gash over Galvano’s eye, forcing a stoppage and handing Benn the world title. With the victory, Benn became a two-division world champion and immediately called for a unification showdown with bitter rival and WBA super middleweight titlist Chris Eubank Snr.
Ken Buchanan def. Ismael Laguna
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1970
Ken Buchanan traveled to Puerto Rico to challenge Ismael Laguna for the WBA lightweight title, stepping into one of boxing’s most hostile environments. Laguna, a two-time world champion, was widely expected to retain his title in front of his fierce home crowd.
Buchanan delivered a composed and intelligent performance, boxing with discipline over 15 grueling rounds to outpoint the champion. Battling not only Laguna but the blazing sun beating down on his back, the Scot did enough to earn a unanimous decision victory and the WBA title. It remains one of the most significant away-soil triumphs in British boxing history.
John H. Stracey def. José Nápoles
Mexico City, Mexico, 1975
John H. Stracey traveled to Mexico City as a heavy underdog to challenge Jose Napoles for the WBC welterweight title, stepping into one of the most intimidating environments in world boxing. Napoles, a two-weight world champion and one of the finest fighters of his generation, was firmly cemented as the division’s dominant force and widely expected to defend his title with ease on home soil.
Stracey overcame a first-round knockdown to defy the odds and claim an upset stoppage victory. After six rounds of sustained punishment, the referee waved it off, handing Stracey a stunning stoppage victory. It remains one of the greatest shocks in British boxing history to this day.
Lennox Lewis def. Evander Holyfield II
Las Vegas, Nevada, 1999
A slight exception to the rule as Lennox Lewis was also a champion, but Lewis returned to Las Vegas to face unified champion Evander Holyfield in their rematch for the undisputed crown, having been denied victory nine months earlier in a highly controversial draw. That first bout was widely viewed as a clear Lewis win, but the judges’ scorecards ensured the Brit had to do it all again on American soil.
This time, Lewis left little room for debate. Over 12 rounds he dominated the action, and when the final bell sounded, Lewis was awarded a unanimous decision victory, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. It was a historic moment for British boxing, and one of the most significant wins ever recorded by a U.K. fighter on American soil.
