Dalton Smith has catapulted himself into the boxing stratosphere with a stunning fifth-round stoppage of Subriel Matias, claiming the WBC super lightweight crown on a night that will be etched in British boxing lore. The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, played host to this electrifying bout on January 10, 2026, as Smith—previously untested at world level—toppled the heavily favored Puerto Rican in front of a boisterous crowd.
Smith, now 19-0 with 14 knockouts, entered the ring as the underdog for the first time in his career. Yet, by the end of the night, he was the one standing tall, the green-and-gold belt slung over his shoulder. "It was the first time in my career I was the underdog," Smith reflected in the immediate aftermath. "Put me against a monster, and you will not bring the little girl out of me; you will bring the monster, like I said. Bring on the challengers. I am now world champion. I am one of the best."
The atmosphere in Brooklyn was charged, with Matias enjoying the support of New York’s strong Puerto Rican community. The defending champion looked relaxed during his ring walk, even pausing for selfies with family members. Smith, for his part, made the walk to the strains of Arctic Monkeys’ “When the Sun Goes Down,” a nod to his Sheffield roots and a signal of confidence as he stepped onto the world stage.
Despite his lack of world-level experience, Smith wasted no time establishing himself in the opening round. He used his jab to set the tempo, landing sharp right hands and keeping Matias at bay. Observers noted how Smith’s approach mirrored that of Liam Paro, who had previously dethroned Matias in 2024. But Smith, displaying both grit and bravado, soon abandoned the cautious strategy. Instead, he chose to stand his ground and trade with the renowned pressure fighter—a move that had many experts shaking their heads in disbelief.
Matias, 33, with a record of 23-3 and 22 knockouts, is infamous for his relentless pressure and heavy hands. He’s also known for starting slow, often giving up early rounds before turning up the heat. True to form, Matias began to press in the second round, forcing Smith onto the back foot and drawing blood from the Briton’s nose. But Smith refused to yield, answering Matias’s advances with combinations of his own.
The third round saw the tide briefly shift as Matias found success on the inside, opening a cut over Smith’s left eye. Instead of retreating, Smith dug in, matching Matias punch for punch in a brawling display that delighted the crowd. “I didn’t really stick to the tactics tonight. I played him at his own game,” Smith admitted. “I gave my dad a bit of a heart attack in there as that wasn’t the gameplan, but I took all his best shots and thought ‘you can’t hurt me’. I knew I’d get to him.”
As the fight wore on, the exchanges grew more violent. Smith landed several heavy left hooks to close the fourth round, signaling that he was more than willing to risk it all in pursuit of glory. The fifth round, however, would be the one that defined both the fight and Smith’s career.
In a frenetic opening minute, Smith stumbled briefly from a Matias combination, but he quickly regained his composure. What followed was a firefight, with both men trading power shots in the center of the ring. Smith landed two straight left-right combinations that snapped Matias’s head back, then unleashed a looping overhand right that sent the champion sprawling to the canvas. Matias, ever the warrior, beat the count, but he staggered back to his feet, clearly unfit to continue. The referee, seeing the danger, waved the fight off—handing Smith the victory and the world title.
“What he did tonight was incredible, because he beat Matias at his own game,” declared Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn. “Dalton Smith just announced himself as the new superstar in the 140-pound division.”
The upset sent shockwaves through the boxing world. Matias, who had claimed the WBC title against Alberto Puello in July 2025, was making his first defense. He had previously lost the IBF belt to Liam Paro in 2024, and his defeat at the hands of Smith marks the second time in two years he’s lost a world title in his first defense. As per the pre-fight agreement, Smith is now expected to face Puello next—a tantalizing prospect for fans eager to see if the Sheffield native can build on his newfound status.
Smith’s win also places him among an elite group of current British world champions, joining the likes of Fabio Wardley, Lewis Crocker, Jazza Dickens, and Nick Ball. His victory in the United States evokes memories of other great Britons who have conquered on American soil, including Kell Brook, who famously upset Shawn Porter in the same city years ago. “This is a message to every kid out there. Do not let anybody tell you can’t achieve your dreams because if you work hard, you can do it,” Smith said, his words resonating with both fans and aspiring fighters alike.
Beyond the main event, the Barclays Center saw a full night of action. Emmanuel Rodriguez returned from a 20-month layoff to defeat Fernando Diaz by unanimous decision (97-92, 99-90, 99-90) in a bantamweight clash. Jeyvier Cintron made quick work of Victor Sandoval, scoring a first-round knockout, while Nestor Bravo dispatched Pedro Campa in the second round. Keith Colon notched a seventh-round TKO, and Arjan Iseni won by corner stoppage in the third round of his light heavyweight bout.
For Matias, the loss is a bitter pill after a turbulent year that included an adverse drug-test finding for ostarine in November. The New York State Athletic Commission ultimately allowed the fight to proceed, ruling the detected concentration was below the threshold used by major jurisdictions. Still, the defeat leaves Matias at a crossroads, with questions swirling about his future in the division.
As for Smith, the future has never looked brighter. Promoter Eddie Hearn has already hinted at a homecoming fight at Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. There’s also the tantalizing prospect of unification bouts against the likes of Teofimo Lopez, Gary Russell, and Richardson Hitchins—all titleholders in the stacked super lightweight division.
For now, though, Smith and his team are content to savor the moment. “Show me the money,” Smith joked, beaming with pride. “Let me enjoy this moment now—I’m going to embrace it. The future is bright.”
With his gutsy performance and world-title triumph, Dalton Smith has emerged as one of boxing’s brightest new stars. The world will be watching to see where his journey leads next.
