Smith to defend WBC title against Puello in Sheffield

Dalton Smith is scheduled to make the first defence of his WBC super-lightweight title against Alberto Puello at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday, October 24. The bout is a homecoming for Smith and a chance for former champion Puello to reclaim the belt. No result was reported in the previews published before the fight. Smith, 29, won the title in January by stopping Subriel Matias in the fifth round in Brooklyn, New York. The victory was his first world championship. Puello, a 32-year-old Dominican boxer, previously held the WBC title and lost it to Matias before Smith won it. The WBC says Puello was elevated from interim champion to full champion and made one successful defence. The matchup was originally scheduled for May, but was postponed after Smith sustained an injury in training, according to a report cited in the fight’s broadcast listing. The bout is now scheduled to headline a card at the 12,500-capacity arena in Sheffield, Smith’s hometown. The fighters bring contrasting approaches into the contest. Puello is a southpaw, a style that boxing analysts have described as awkward to face, while Smith is known for his power and accuracy. Smith said he considers...