The World Boxing Council has ordered newly crowned junior welterweight champion Dalton Smith to defend his title against former two-time belt holder Alberto Puello. The decision, first reported by BoxingScene, gives both camps 30 days to reach an agreement before the sanctioning body moves the fight to the bid.
The order puts Dalton Smith in a demanding first defense just months after winning the belt with a fifth-round stoppage of Subriel Matias at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Entering that fight as the mandatory challenger, Matchroom-promoted Smith ended Matias’ title reign with a performance built on clinch and physical control when the exchanges turned dangerous.
That approach slowed Matias and allowed Smith to work from place to place until the stoppage arrived. This worked against a pressure fighter who prefers constant exchanges at close range. Puello presents a different type of problem.
The Dominican southpaw works behind movement and distance rather than sustained pressure. Puello rarely stays in one spot long enough for opponents to tie him up repeatedly, and that style can disrupt fighters who depend on clinch to slow the pace of a fight. Smith will likely need cleaner positioning and a more consistent offense if the two meet.
Puello reached this position after the WBC guaranteed him the next opportunity once the belt changed hands following his majority decision loss to Matias last July. The result subsequently sparked debate, with the sanctioning body informing Puello that he would challenge the next champion once the title was moved to a new holder.
The 30-year-old previously held the WBA junior welterweight title before losing the belt outside the ring in 2023 after testing positive for clomiphene ahead of a planned defense against Rolando Romero. Puello later explained that the drug was prescribed while he and his wife were trying to start a family. After serving a suspension, he returned to competition and rebuilt his position with several victories, including a victory over Gary Antuanne Russell for the interim WBO title.
Negotiations will now move forward between Smith’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, and Puello’s representatives affiliated with Premier Boxing Champions. If the parties do not reach terms during the negotiation window, the WBC has scheduled a purse bid for April 3 to determine promotional rights to the fight.
Smith showed resilience in beating Matias, but this assignment calls for a different approach against a fighter whose movement could remove the inside control that helped him win the title.
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Last updated on 2026/03/05 at 18:38
