Promoter Eddie Hearn is calling light welterweight Dalton Smith a “world champion in waiting” after signing him for another hitch with his Matchrooom promotional company following his fifth-round knockout win over the fading veteran Jose Zepeda last Saturday night in Sheffield, England.
Unfortunately, Hearn hasn’t said what he plans on doing with #13 WBC Dalton Smith if he can’t skillfully maneuver him through the backdoor route to a world title at 140 or, at the very least, a crack at a world belt.
What can a promoter do with Dalton Smith if he can’t handle the contenders without taking one loss after another, and you’re stuck with a contract that won’t end soon?
Feeding Frenzy Awaits
He’ll be stuck with dead weight since Hearn can’t put Dalton in with any of these fighters without watching a feeding frenzy with Smith getting torn apart by these talents:
Ryan Garcia
Gary ‘Antuanne’ Russell
Sandor Martin
Arnold Barboza Jr.
Jose Ramirez
Richardson Hitchins
Regis Prograis
All those fighters are ranked above Dalton in the World Boxing Council’s rankings. So, unless Hearn has Dalton leapfrog all of them straight into a world title shot, which he wouldn’t deserve, he’ll have to face one or two of them and meet his destiny.
Hearn believes that the 27-year-old Smith (16-0, 12 KOs) can capture the WBC 140-lb belt after the current champion, Devin Haney, who is huge for the division, gives it up to move up to 147 to make life easier on himself.
Devin Not Giving Up Belt
Hearn and Smith could be waiting a long, long time for that to happen, considering Haney is showing no interest in moving up to welterweight to swim in the waters, which are teaming with killer sharks like Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Conor Benn, Giovani Santillan, and Alexis Rocha. Haney ain’t budging. He’s terrified of Boots Ennis.
It’s much safer for Haney at 140, and he’ll probably continue to put his body through pure torture to drain down to 170 to make weight to hold onto his WBC title at light welterweight rather than fight semi-close to where he should be campaigning at.
Hearn’s Empty Praise
“I’m delighted to extend our promotional deal with Dalton Smith, who I believe is a World Champion in waiting,” said Hearn.
“When he produces performances like that against Jose Zepeda, it makes it very easy to do my job. After such a special win at the weekend, the next one will be even bigger.”