Adam Azim reacts to Dalton Smith’s world title win over Subriel Matias

Dalton Smith raised the bar in his rivalry with Adam Azim producing a sensational world title triumph on American soil Saturday night.

A sparse crowd inside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center witnessed one of the greatest performances ever by a British fighter, as Smith tore up his original game plan and outpointed fearsome puncher Subriel Matias to win the WBC super-lightweight title.

From the start, the Briton seemed determined to box the Puerto Rican champion, using movement and timing to pick his moments with right hands. That approach changed dramatically in the second round when Matias closed the distance and dialed back the power that had fueled a 96 percent knockout rate in his 22 wins.

What followed was a fierce and close battle, with both men trading heavily in the pocket. In the fifth round, however, it was Smith’s power that proved decisive. A crushing shot sent Matias to the canvas and referee Ricky Gonzalez called off the fight seconds later, crowning Sheffield’s world hunting champion in emphatic fashion.

The victory makes Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) the new British men’s world champion, joining Fabio Wardley, Lewis Crocker, Jazza Dickens and Nick Ball at the top.

Azim, Smith’s longtime rival, is still in the hunt for a belt. The highly-rated 23-year-old returns on January 31 against world-ranked Argentine Gustavo Lemos, who was desperately unlucky not to secure the decision against IBF champion Richardson Hitchins in 2024.

Azim He temporarily put aside his rivalry with Smith to acknowledge the magnitude of the feat. Post on a few hours after the fight, he wrote:

“Congratulations to Dalton Smith. That was a hell of a performance. All 140 belts will be coming to the UK.”

If Azim (14-0, 11 KO) gets past Lemos, calls for a long-awaited domestic showdown will only intensify. For Smith, however, attention may turn first to business obligations, with mandatory challenger Alberto Puello waiting in the wings – and proof that life as a world champion does not always allow for a quiet first defense.