Dalton Smith KOs Subriel Matias

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Rounds where timing replaced power

By the third, Smith had stopped leaning into exchanges that favored Mathias. He started to meet him at the stairs. His right hand landed before impact, not during. The shots were shorter. cleaner. Mathias continued to press, but the returns started coming from angles he usually doesn’t respect.

Smith wasn’t trying to control the ring. He was minimizing the cost of each exchange. Check out the hooks when Mathias squares up. Straight rights over the top when the guard goes too high. Body action that slowed down the reset process. Nothing is lost.

The fourth round told the story calmly. Matthias is still casting. Smith is still standing. The difference was who internalized clean work. The ropes appeared behind Matthias more than expected.

The end and its chapter

The fifth ended quickly once the scales shifted. A right hand dropped Matthias. He stood up, but his feet were not steady. Another hardcore right followed. The referee intervened without hesitation. Smith leaves with the WBC belt that has the usual politics attached to it.

UK now lists five male belt holders.

Fabio Wardley heavyweight.
Lewis Crocker, welterweight.
Dalton Smith is a junior welterweight.
Jazza Dickens is a junior lightweight.
Nick Ball is a featherweight.

Matthias handled the loss professionally. Smith has shown that he can take sustained force, read and answer without haste.

“It was the first time in my career that I was the underdog. Put me up against a monster, and the little girl’s not going to come out of me, she’s going to bring the monster, like I said. Bring the challengers. I’m world champion now. I’m one of the best.” Smith said in the ring afterward.

Dalton Smith’s win over Subriel Mathias not only secured the WBC lightweight title, but also cemented his place among the division’s top contenders.