Inside the ring at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Subriel Matias of Puerto Rico (23-2-0, 22 KOs) and England’s Dalton Smith (18-0-0, 13 KOs) squared off just a few hours ago in a bout with the WBC super lightweight world title on the line. In a surprising outcome, the belt is now in the hands of the new British champion: Smith prevailed with a spectacular knockout in the fifth round, winning decisively in a fight in which he had initially been the underdog.
As expected, the script of the fight was respected, with Matias setting an extremely high pace. What was surprising, however, was seeing Smith control the ring with intelligence and the right intent, managing distance in the first two rounds and accepting to “go to war” when the pressure became too intense — but with the proper weapons.
Matias’ intensity is usually enough to wear opponents down, forcing them into close-range exchanges against a fighter with a very high work rate and an exceptionally solid chin. The Puerto Rican advances relentlessly, suffocating his opponent with constant pressure. That’s not to say he has no weaknesses: Matias’ defense is rudimentary, his upper-body movement virtually nonexistent, and his footwork decidedly basic.
Smith clearly absorbed Puello’s lesson, but brought his own standout attributes into the ring: excellent mobility, sharp single shots and fast combinations, and solid punching power backed by a knockout ratio of around 70%.
At the opening bell, Matias began to press forward, albeit throwing few punches, only to find himself facing a confident opponent, light on his feet and fast-handed. Smith kept him at bay with a high-quality jab, often doubling it with a right hook.
The pattern remained the same in the second round, despite Matias trying to increase his output. Smith’s mobility caused him serious problems, just as Puello’s had before. This time, however, the Puerto Rican was facing a fighter whose punches were far more solid and dangerous. The accumulation of clean shots absorbed in the first two rounds was significant and undoubtedly affected the remainder of the fight.
Aware that he could not avoid close-range exchanges forever, Smith accepted the inside battle in the third round. He did so intelligently, though at the risk of draining his energy quickly. Smith put weight into every punch, exploiting his notable hand speed and taking advantage of Matias’ far-from-impenetrable defense. Toward the end of the round, the two engaged in a truly spectacular high-intensity exchange, with both men absorbing heavy shots.
The momentum of the fight remained unchanged, with both fighters continuing to trade. Smith showed great composure in halting Matias’ advance, clinching when necessary to catch his breath and break his opponent’s rhythm.
As the rounds went on, Smith’s solidity became increasingly evident. He was not overwhelmed by the Puerto Rican’s hellish pace, responding punch for punch while relying on superior accuracy and clarity — qualities Matias already seemed to be losing, partly due to the many punches he had taken.
And so, in the fifth round, the upset materialized. Matias continued to press forward but found himself backed up against the ropes, pushed there by Smith’s pressure and, above all, by the quality of his punches: jabs, right hooks, and uppercuts were landing far too easily. From mid-range, with Matias visibly exhausted, the stunning knockout arrived. Smith first caught Matias with a left hook to the temple, then twice with a one-two — jab and straight right, the second straight particularly heavy — before sealing the finish with a right hook to the temple.
Matias collapsed to the canvas. Although he managed to get back to his feet, the referee stopped the fight after seeing him wobbling and unsteady on his legs, awarding Smith the victory by fifth-round knockout. A superb performance by the 28-year-old Briton, who showcased a composed brand of boxing built on excellent technique, mobility, and lightning-fast punches. Now, for the new WBC super lightweight champion, the door opens to even bigger fights against the other top contenders in the division.