Promoter Eddie Hearn says he hopes for the compulsory Dalton Smith (18-0, 13 COs) to fight the WBC Light Welterweight Champion Alberto Puello after his 12-round victory over Mathieu Germain (26-3-1, 11 KOs) Saturday night in the Park Community Arena in Sheffield, England.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)
Puello next?
Hearn states that Puello has a voluntary defense that he can take first before defending against Smith, but he thinks it is possible that he will face him next after looking at his less than-spectacular victory over Germain. Dalton looked good in that fight, but he couldn’t record the knockout he needed to create interest in a clash between him and Puello.
Smith struck Germain three times in the competition, once in rounds two, eleven and twelve. The scores were 119-105, 119-105 and 117-107.
Hearn did not mention who Dalton could face next if he couldn’t get the title against Puello next. It would be smart for him to get the best possible, willing opponent. It won’t be easy because Smith hits hard, and he’s a real welter weight. He must fight in that section rather than at 140. Tonight he looked like a small junior middleweight.
This may amount to how much Hearn is willing to pay to get a contender to fight Smith. If he is going to be cheap, or if he does not want him to be tested for fear that he will lose, he will probably fight the 140 -pound division for a clone of German for him. In other words, Hearn will excavate another tomato tin to make Smith look like solid 24k gold.
“Definitely Puello or definitely the WBC title, whoever it got it,” promoter Eddie Hearn said Seconds When asked who Dalton Smith will fight next after his victory over Mathieu Germain on Saturday night in Sheffield.
Negotiations in advance
It doesn’t matter what Hearn wants. If the money is not there for Puello to fight Smith, he will not. He is a true fighter of 140 pounds, and he will not be eager to fight a man who has to fight at 147. If Hearn Puello Chump is going to offer to fight Smith in Sheffield in front of a large Pro-Smith crowd, he will not agree to the fight.
“Puello will be instructed to fight against Dalton, but he has just won the battle. So he will be allowed a voluntary (defense),” Hearn said. “It was a good performance of Dalton. Not spectacular. And sometimes, if you have those performances, it makes you fight now rather than in September or October. I hope it, but we’ll see. ‘
Hillsborough is a big stadium. Dalton did well in the arenas. There was a good crowd here tonight, but I believe the world title challenge is coming to the Sheffield Arena. I think the city is behind the struggle for the WBC title. I think he (Smith) can fill it.
“Then, if you go to bigger fights, you can talk about Hillsborough. If you are fighting against Teo, Richardson Hitchins in a unification, or Ryan Garcia, or the kind of battles. As we saw with Kell Brook against Errol Spence who can do 25,000 plus, ‘says Hearn.
Last updated on 04/19/2025
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