Promoter Eddie Hearn says he’s hoping for mandatory Dalton Smith (18-0, 13 KOs) to fight WBC light welterweight champion Alberto Puello next following his 12-round unanimous decision win over Mathieu Germain (26-3-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday night at 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 he defends against Smith, but he thinks it’s possible that he’ll want to face him next after watching his less-than-spectacular win over Germain. Dalton looked good in that fight, but he failed to score the knockout that he needed to create interest in a clash between him and Puello.
Smith knocked Germain down three times in the contest, once in rounds two, eleven, and twelve. The scores were 119-105, 119-105, and 117-107.
Hearn didn’t mention who Dalton could face next if he can’t get the title shot against Puello next. It would be smart for him to get the best possible, willing opponent. That won’t be easy because Smith hits hard, and he’s a true welterweight. He should be fighting in that division rather than at 140. Tonight, he looked like a small junior middleweight.
It could come down to how much Hearn is willing to pay to get a contender to fight Smith. If he’s going to be cheap or if he doesn’t want him to be tested for fear he’ll lose, he’ll likely comb the 140-lb division for a clone of Germane for him to fight next. In other words, Hearn will dig up another tomato can to make Smith look like solid 24k gold.
“Definitely Puello or definitely the WBC title, whoever has got it,” said promoter Eddie Hearn to Secondsout when asked who Dalton Smith will be fighting next following his win over Mathieu Germain on Saturday night in Sheffield.
Negotiations Ahead
It doesn’t matter what Hearn wants. If the money isn’t there for Puello to fight Smith, he won’t do it. He’s a true 140-lb fighter, and he won’t be eager to fight a guy who should be fighting at 147. If Hearn is going to offer Puello chump change to fight Smith in Sheffield in front of a large pro-Smith crowd, he’s not going to agree to the fight.
“Puello will be mandated to fight Dalton, but he just won the fight. So, he will be allowed a voluntary [defense],” said Hearn. “It was a solid performance from Dalton. Not spectacular. And sometimes when you have those performances, it makes you fight him now rather than in September or October. I hope so, but we’ll see. ”
Hillsborough is a big stadium. Dalton has done well in the arenas. There was a good crowd here tonight, but I believe the world title challenge comes at the Sheffield Arena. I think the city gets behind that fight for the WBC title. I think he [Smith] can fill it up.
“Then, when you’re going to bigger fights, then you can talk about Hillsborough. If you’re fighting Teo, Richardson Hitchins in an unification, or Ryan Garcia, or those kinds of fights. As we saw with Kell Brook against Errol Spence that can do 25,000 plus,” said Hearn.
Last Updated on 04/19/2025
