Dalton Smith Edges Alberto Puello by Split Decision to Retain WBC Title: Video Highlights and Full Card Results
By Real Combat Media Boxing Editorial Staff
Sheffield, England, (October 24th, 2026)–Dalton Smith survived a tactical, razor-close fight in front of his home crowd to retain his WBC super lightweight title by split decision over Alberto Puello on Saturday night at Utilita Arena. Two judges scored it 115-113 for the Sheffield native and a third had it 116-112 for the Dominican challenger. Smith (20-0, 14 KOs) made the first defense of the belt he won with a fifth-round stoppage of Subriel Matias in January, and the result keeps his dream of a stadium night at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough alive, with a unification against Shakur Stevenson or Gary Antuanne Russell the targets. Read our fight week preview for the build-up.
How the Fight Went
Smith’s fight was postponed from June after an injury, and Puello (25-2, 11 KOs), a 32-year-old Las Vegas-based southpaw and former two-time world champion, was the mandatory challenger who had waited for it. Both men weighed 139.6 pounds. The pace was tactical rather than frantic. Puello started well behind his southpaw jab and kept Smith at arm’s length early. Smith warmed up in round two, landing lead right hands, and he continued to have success with that punch in rounds three and four before Puello came back into it in the fifth by getting his left hand going.
From there it was a see-saw. Smith leaned on his counter punching and body work, and he had a strong eighth round, while Puello’s left hand and body work kept the rounds tight. Smith was cut above the right eye in the 10th and picked up another cut on the cheek in the 12th. Puello made a fast start to the 11th with a double left hand, but Smith upped the pace and landed a strong right hook early in the 12th, then another about 30 seconds later, before showboating in the closing seconds. Neither fighter was knocked down.
The three judges disagreed. Spain’s Jon Llona and England’s Kieran McCann both scored it 115-113 for Smith, while the Philippines’ Ray Danseco had it 116-112 for Puello. The verdict drew debate afterward, with BoxingNews24 calling it questionable and suggesting a rematch would settle it. Smith said afterward that he is “proving why I’m number one” in the division, and he spoke about wanting to bring the belt home for the Sheffield crowd.
What’s Next for Dalton Smith
Promoter Eddie Hearn made the plan clear in the ring: “Next must be unifications.” The top targets are WBO and Ring Magazine champion Shakur Stevenson and WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell. Hearn said Smith has beaten two of the best fighters in the division in Matias and Puello and wants to take him to Hillsborough Stadium, which holds just under 35,000, potentially in the spring of 2027. Hearn name-checked Stevenson specifically.
The Stevenson option is only realistic because of his recent news. Stevenson recently exited Zuffa Boxing without fighting for the promotion and says he is starting his own promotional company, which leaves him as a free agent. You can read the full timeline in our Shakur Stevenson leaves Zuffa Boxing story. For now, nothing has been signed for Hillsborough or any opponent, and a Puello rematch is also a talking point after the close scorecards.
Undercard Highlights
In the chief support, Giorgio Visioli (12-0, 6 KOs) won the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title by majority decision over Doncaster veteran Maxi Hughes (29-10-2, 6 KOs), 96-94, 95-95, 96-94, in the toughest test of the 23-year-old’s career.
Teenage heavyweight Leo Atang (9-0, 8 KOs) dropped Jonathan Exequiel Vergara three times in the first round, and the referee waved it off at 3:00 of the round. Shannon Ryan (12-1, 3 KOs) avenged a loss by stopping Emma Dolan in 46 seconds of the first round after two knockdowns, retaining her Commonwealth and IBF Intercontinental titles and taking Dolan’s British title. Yorkshire prospects Edward Hardy, Chris Mulunda and Joe Hayden all won on points, and Divine Omojor made a winning professional debut with a second-round stoppage.
Full Fight Card Results
Main Card
Super Lightweight (WBC Title): Dalton Smith (20-0, 14 KOs) def. Alberto Puello (25-2, 11 KOs) by split decision (115-113, 112-116, 115-113)
Lightweight (WBC International Silver Title): Giorgio Visioli (12-0, 6 KOs) def. Maxi Hughes (29-10-2, 6 KOs) by majority decision (96-94, 95-95, 96-94)
Heavyweight: Leo Atang (9-0, 8 KOs) def. Jonathan Exequiel Vergara (9-5, 5 KOs) by TKO (three knockdowns), Round 1, 3:00
Super Flyweight (British, Commonwealth and IBF Intercontinental Titles): Shannon Ryan (12-1, 3 KOs) def. Emma Dolan (9-2, 1 KO) by TKO (two knockdowns), Round 1, 0:46
Preliminary Card
Super Featherweight: Edward Hardy (9-0, 3 KOs) def. Diego Alberto Ruiz (28-16-1, 14 KOs) by points decision (79-73)
Cruiserweight: Divine Omojor (1-0) def. Goran Kozul (8-13, 2 KOs) by TKO (referee stoppage), Round 2, 1:52
Middleweight: Chris Mulunda (5-0) def. Harley Collison (3-8-2) by points decision (60-54)
Super Welterweight: Joe Hayden (25-0, 4 KOs) def. Will Harrison (8-2-2) by points decision (79-72)
Watch
Dalton Smith vs. Alberto Puello Video Highlights
Dalton Smith vs. Alberto Puello Fight Video Highlights (Video via DAZN Boxing)
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