What's Next For Dalton Smith After Stunning Upset Knockout of Subriel Matias

Britain's Dalton Smith turned the super-lightweight division on its head when he brutally knocked out the hard-hitting Subriel Matias at the Barclays Center to become the new WBC world champion at 140 pounds. Heading into the clash, the Sheffield-born fighter was made a huge underdog, with his fearsome Puerto Rican opponent already known for vicious knockouts throughout his career. However, it was the champion who ultimately couldn't stand up to the power, with the challenger strolling into the Big Apple and taking out the king in vicious fashion before heading back across the pond with the title in tow.

Online betting sites weren't big on Smith's hopes heading into the clash. The unbeaten 29-year-old had a perfect 17-0 record but had never faced opposition anywhere close to the level of Matias. As such, outlets such as the popular upstart Lucky Rebel sportsbook made the challenger a 2/1 underdog in his maiden world championship battle. But it turned out that there was plenty of fight in the proud Yorkshireman.

Smith Closes the Show

Walking to the ring to the sounds of Sheffield superstars the Arctic Monkeys, it was clear from the outset that Smith was no pushover. Matias pushed hard throughout the first four rounds, landing a slew of heavy blows, but the challenger never wilted. In fact, he bit down on his gumshield and fired back, avoiding getting caught on the ropes in the process. Then, in the fifth round, the Brits' opportunity arrived.

Midway through the round, Smith delivered a vicious straight right hand, which visibly wobbled the champion. He delivered a second immediately after, before a third straight right put Matias on the canvas for the first time in his career. The Puerto Rican staggered his way to his feet, but the referee waved the contest off, deeming him unfit to continue. "Thunder" had done it, knocking out the division's most feared champion in what promoter Eddie Hearn would call "the greatest away win" any of his fighters had ever had.

Smith becomes the sixth active British world champion and now cements his legacy as one of Sheffield's finest. Former champions Kell Brook, "Prince" Naseem Hamed, Clinton Woods, and Johnny Nelson all call the Steel City their own, and now Dalton Smith joins that illustrious list. But as soon as the dust had settled from a famous night in the Barclays Center, attention immediately turned to what's next.

The 140-pound division is currently wide open, with four current world champions and the mouth-watering opportunity for someone to step up to the plate and unify. So, will that man be Smith? Let's take a look at what could be in the immediate future of the newly minted WBC champion.

British Grudge Match with Adam Azim

In the immediate aftermath of the TKO victory, Dalton Smith immediately fired shots at compatriot Adam Azim. The two have long been verbal sparring partners, and it seems as though promoter Hearn and the newly crowned champion would be gunning for a mouthwatering grudge match between the pair in his first defence. However, in recent days, talks have cooled somewhat on that front.

Even so, speaking to Sky Sports, Matchroom - Smith's promotional company, headed by Hearn - CEO Frank Smith stated that the Sheffield fighter was "levels above" Azim and that he would "smash him to bits" if the two met inside the ring. That certainly sounds like fighting talk.

Unifications Await

There can be no denying that Eddie Hearn hasn't always delivered the best championship reigns for his fighters over the years. Fellow Sheffielder Kell Brook endured a disastrous reign when he was welterweight champion, defending his title against undersized compatriot Frankie Gavin and unheralded mandatory challenger Jo Jo Dan. All the while, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao held the other world titles in the division. The newly crowned Dalton Smith will be hoping that his reign doesn't follow the Special K blueprint, especially when several potential blockbusters are now on the table.

American star Teofimo Lopez is, without a doubt, the biggest name champion at 140 pounds. The 28-year-old shot to stardom back in 2020 when he upset pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko to become the undisputed lightweight champion as a huge underdog. He would suffer his own upset loss to Australian George Kambosos Jr. in his first defence, but has since rebounded in spectacular style.

Moving up to super lightweight, Lopez has beaten the likes of Josh Taylor and Arnold Barboza Jr. to become the WBO champion and number one name in the division. Could a unification clash between the two be the next option? The Takeover must first defend his strap against pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson, who is moving up from lightweight to challenge for the gold. If Smith could secure a unification scrap with the victor of that clash, he would put himself in a position to secure a monster payday and become a household name the world over.