What makes it difficult to agree with Hearn is Smith’s lack of experience against world-level opposition during his six-year professional career. Although he has done an admirable job compiling an undefeated record of 18-0, none of the wins have come against top level fighters.
The 28-year-old Smith’s best wins have come against fringe fighters. He’s done what he’s supposed to, beating the opposition put in front of him, but he hasn’t fought the type of talents that will give people a chance to accurately gauge how well he’ll do when he comes through with the Puerto Rican knockout artist.
Dalton’s last five wins:
- Matthew Germain
- Walid Quiz
- Joseph Zepeda
- Sam Maxwell
- Billy Allington
Smith did not face several established contenders in the 140-pound division: Ernesto Mercado, Keyshawn Davis, Oscar Duarte, Jamaine Ortiz and Kenneth Sims.
One of the problems in the sport is that fighters are not tested before they fight for world titles. The emphasis is on compiling a record to earn them a title shot, but there is no development. Is Smith a beneficiary of this? We will see. Maybe the sparring he’s had will make up for the lack of quality opposition he’s faced in his career.
“Subriel is a tremendous fighter, but this is just the perfect style for Dalton Smith. I think he will stop Subriel Matias late in the fight,” promoter Eddie Hearn told Ring Magazine.
Smith’s best chance to win is to try for an early knockout, because if the fight with Matias goes into the later rounds, the chances of him being knocked down and stopped will increase.
“Don’t run. You’ve never faced someone like me, and I’ll prove it to you on January 10,” Matias told Boxingscene about Smith.
The Matias-Smith was briefly in danger of being canceled after Matias came up positive in a VADA test for low levels of the banned substance Ostarine. The New York State Athletic Commission and WBC cleared Matias. So, the battle is allowed to continue.
