WBC light welterweight champion Subriel Matias (23-2, 22 KOs) makes a defense against unbeaten #1-ranked Dalton Smith (18-0, 13 KOs) on January 10 in New York.
The Ring reports that Fresh Productions won the purse bid for the Matias vs. Smith fight on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, with a winning bid of $1,900,000.
Hearn Predicts Walk in the Park
This is the fight that Dalton Smith’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, of Matchroom Boxing, has been pushing for. He’s very confident that Smith, 28, will be victorious. The way Hearn bangs on about Smith, it’s going to be a walk in the park for him against Matias.
“Dalton’s ready for this. Matias comes forward, throws bombs, but Dalton’s got the speed, the brains, and the heart to take him apart,” said Hearn during a recent press conference in September 2025.
Dalton Smith’s last four fights
- Mathieu Germain: UD 12 win
- Walid Ouizza: TKO 1
- Jose Zepeda: KO 5
- Sam Maxwell: TKO 7
What Smith lacks is a proven resume of quality opposition to back up Hearn’s bold words. Thus far, Dalton has beaten mainly domestic-level opposition, with a few bottom-tier contenders at 140.
No one on the Sheffield-born Smith’s resume screams out at you to suggest that he’s going to “take him apart” like Hearn brags. If it doesn’t go well for Dalton, Hearn will have to shoulder the blame. He should have matched him tougher a long time ago to better prepare him for the boogeyman of the light welterweight division, Matias.
Matias’ Relentless Pressure Style
The work rate of the Fajardo, Puerto Rico-born Subriel, 33, is going to be a problem that Smith is going to have to deal with in this fight. Matias never stops throwing punches and has an excellent engine.
Matias is coming off a 12-round majority decision win over WBC 140-lb champion Alberto Puello on July 12, 2025, in Queens, New York.
Puello vs. Matias punch stats
- Subriel Matías: 130 landed of 673 thrown for 19%
- Alberto Puello: 160 of 761 for 21%
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