Just when it appeared he was fighting the wrong fight, Dalton Smith flipped the script and the junior welterweight division with one perfectly timed eruption. The unbeaten British contender scored a stunning fifth-round knockout of feared puncher Subriel Matias to capture the WBC junior welterweight title in a thrilling showdown at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Fighting out of Sheffield, England, Dalton Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) appeared to be tempting fate early by standing his ground and trading punches with one of the most dangerous pressure fighters at 140 pounds. After an opening round spent boxing on the outside, Smith was gradually pulled into a toe-to-toe battle — exactly the type of fight Matias thrives in.
But just as it seemed the heavy-handed champion was beginning to break him down, Smith detonated the fight.
A Champion-Making Moment
In the fifth round, Smith stepped back and fired a sharp right hand that rocked Subriel Matias (23-3, 22 KOs). Matias, known for his bravado and relentless pressure, waved Smith forward only to walk directly into a second, crushing right that sent him crashing to the canvas.
Matias struggled to regain his footing and beat the count, but he was badly compromised. With under a minute remaining in the round, the referee waved off the contest, crowning Smith a world champion for the first time.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve been the underdog and the first time I went against a monster,” Smith said afterward. “I cancelled all the noise. Tonight was my night.”
Overcoming the Storm
The result was all the more remarkable considering how the fight unfolded. Matias marched forward from the opening bell, applying constant pressure with heavy hands and a high-volume attack. Smith initially tried to box and move, but by Round 3 he was dragged into close quarters, absorbing uppercuts and combinations that appeared to swing momentum Matias’ way.
Yet Smith never wilted. He fired back in combination, stayed composed under fire, and trusted his power a gamble that ultimately paid off. Matias’ refusal to disengage proved costly. For the first time in his career, the feared puncher was hurt and then stopped.
A Fight That Nearly Didn’t Happen
The bout itself was nearly derailed months earlier. In November, Matias tested positive for a banned substance in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test. Following an investigation, the WBC ruled in December that Matias had not violated its drug policy, allowing the fight to proceed. That decision ultimately paved the way for Smith’s career defining moment.
Matias had won the WBC junior welterweight title with a majority decision over Alberto Puello in July and was widely viewed as the division’s boogeyman. On Saturday night, that aura vanished.
“A New Superstar at 140”
Smith’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, didn’t mince words afterward.
“He beat Matias at his own game,” Hearn said. “Matias had never been down or hurt before, and now Dalton Smith has announced himself as the new superstar of the 140-pound division. The future is unbelievable.”
Ready for Everyone
With the title now around his waist, Smith made it clear he isn’t interested in easing into his reign. “Bring on the challenges,” Smith said. “I’m one of the best, if not the best, in the division. I’m ready to mix it up with everyone.”
In a division stacked with talent and punchers. Dalton Smith didn’t just win a belt in Brooklyn he sent a message. No amount of power, pressure, or reputation will stand between him and his ambition.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
