A title fight once destined for a Riyadh Season show later this year is now at the mercy of the highest bidder.
The previously ordered Subriel Matias-Dalton Smith WBC 140lbs title fight is now headed to a September 2 purse bid hearing. The development comes after it was initially suggested that the fight was all but set for November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Despite the influence of boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, no such deal was struck in the seven weeks that have elapsed since the July 12 declaration. Nor was any headway made during the WBC’s assigned negotiation period for Matias and his team to reach terms to defend his title against Smith as his mandatory challenger.
“Tuesday September 2 purse bid for the mandatory title defense,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed to BoxingScene and other outlets via WhatsApp message. “WBC [140lbs] champion Subriel Matias vs mandatory contender Dalton Smith.”
Puerto Rico’s Matias, 23-2 (22 KOs), is represented by Juan Orengo’s Fresh Productions. England’s Smith, 18-0 (13 KOs), is with Matchroom Boxing.
Matias claimed the WBC junior welterweight title after a 12-round, majority decision victory over previously unbeaten Alberto Puello on July 12 in Queens, New York. The bout was part of the Ring Magazine’s Ring III card, financed by Turki Alalshikh who also owns the publication and is the head of the Riyadh Season group that pushed its way into boxing in 2023.
Alalshikh summoned Smith – who was seated ringside as an invited guest with a vested interest - into the ring shortly after Matias was announced as the winner. Matias was aware of the scenario and prepared to begin talks with Smith’s team, before it was suggested in the ring that the fight was all but done.
“No, friend, you will fight [Smith] in the November [22] card [in Riyadh] for the world title,” Alalshikh directly responded.
Several outlets took the exchange as confirmation that the bout was set in stone as part of the November show’s already stellar lineup. Four title fights are already confirmed for the stacked card, topped by David Benavidez’s WBC light heavyweight title defense against two-time title challenger Anthony Yarde.
There remains work to be done to get to that point. It also stands to reason that Alalshikh – or any appointed promoter on his behalf – can easily outbid the field during Tuesday’s session.
Matias’ narrow win over Puello saw the hard-hitting Puerto Rican become a two-time titleholder at 140lbs. He previously held the IBF title at the weight but suffered a 12-round, unanimous decision defeat to Liam Paro last June 15 on home soil in Manati, Puerto Rico.
Three victories have followed, including his triumph over Puello which marked his first career win that went to the scorecards. His only other two fights to go the distance were each of his defeats.
Smith worked his way to the top spot of the WBC 140lbs rankings through a serious of eliminators and regional sanctioning bodies at stake. His first such move towards title contention came in a fifth-round stoppage of former title challenger Jose Zepeda last March 23 in his Sheffield hometown.
In his most recent start, Smith soundly outpointed Mathieu Germain on April 19 also in Sheffield. The win cemented his position as the next line for the title recently acquired by Matias.
As with any purse bid, a deal can still be reached prior to the start of the session. Additionally, an extension can be requested with the consent of both parties and approved by the sanctioning body.
