Dalton Smith KOs Subriel Matias

Rounds where timing replaced strength

In the third, Smith stopped looking at the exchanges that favored Matias. He started meeting him from the entrance. The right hand landed before the collision, not during it. The shots were shorter. Cleaner. Matias continued to press, but the feedback started coming from angles he usually doesn’t have to respect.

Smith wasn’t trying to dominate the ring. It reduced the cost of each exchange. Check the hooks when Matias squared up. Straight over when the guard has risen too high. Some body work that slowed down the reset. Nothing wasted.

The fourth round told the story quietly. Matias still threw. Smith was still standing. The difference was who absorbed the cleaning work. The ropes appeared behind Matias more often than expected.

The finish and what separated it

The fifth ended quickly once the scales shifted. A right hand dropped Matias. He stood up, but his feet didn’t stabilize. Another hard right followed. The referee intervened without hesitation. Smith walks away with a WBC belt, which has the usual politics attached to it.

The United Kingdom now lists five male belt holders.

Fabio Wardley at heavyweight.
Lewis Crocker at welterweight.
Dalton Smith at junior welterweight.
Jazza Dickens at junior lightweight.
Nick Ball at featherweight.

Matias handled the loss professionally. Smith showed he could use sustained force, read it and respond without rushing.

“It was the first time in my career that I was the underdog, face me a monster, and you won’t bring the little girl out of me; you’ll bring out the monster, like I said. Bring on the challengers. I’m a world champion now. I’m one of the best.” Smith said in the ring afterward.

Dalton Smith’s victory over Subriel Matias not only secured him the WBC super lightweight title, but also solidified his place among the division’s top contenders.

Other results

Bantam-weight: Emmanuel Rodriguez obtained a broad unanimous decision on Fernando Diazwith scores of 97-92, 99-90 and 99-90.

Bantam-weight: Jeyvier Cintron ended things quickly, eliminating Victor Sandoval in the first round.

Junior welterweight: Nestor Bravo arrested Pedro Campá in the second round.

Featherweight: Keith Colon forced a seventh-round TKO against Alberto Guevara.

Light heavyweight: Arjan Iseni earned a third-round TKO when Mario Bedolla Orozco was removed by his corner.