Sheffield is hosting Matchroom's biggest show on British soil so far this year, as Dalton Smith came out on top in what could be the toughest test of his career. The 27-year-old is yet to reach his current status as one of the country's most promising stars, but as with any career, there are always challenges.
He looked after all the domestic participants and won the British super lightweight title outright, but always had dreams much bigger than that. But the stepping stone to the world level is a man who has been at the forefront of the division for nearly a decade.
Jose Zepeda is 37-4 (28) and 34 years old. He has lost all three of his previous world title fights, dating back to the summer of 2015, and has emerged as nearly the best in the division.
He was 23-0 when he arrived at the Manchester Velodrome to face Terry Flanagan that night, on his only other visit to England, but the bout lasted just two rounds and Zepeda was on a stool. Up above, she was nursing a dislocated shoulder. He bounced back from there, but lost to Jose Carlos Ramirez four years later in Fresno, Calif., and to Regis Prograis in 2022 in an 11-round stoppage.
“He's very experienced and has been at world level for a long time,” Smith said of Zepeda. “There's a reason why people are supporting me. I want to challenge myself and give a great fight for my supporters, so I hope Zepeda is the perfect fight for me. I am.”
The California native is no longer in the top 10 at his weight, and his last fight against Richardson Hitchens in September ended in a shutout loss on two of the judges' scorecards, the other in the middle of 12 rounds. I was given one round. Is it because Hitchens is an elite fighter, or is it because Zepeda doesn't have much strength left? Saturday night will provide further answers to that question.
Smith and his father and trainer Grant are adamant that their journey is to win a world title, increasing the 'Thunder's standing in the division and making even more noise across the Atlantic. He plans to do similar work at Zepeda.
“This is a perfect fight and the toughest test of my career,” Smith added. “2024 will be a breakthrough year for me, stepping onto the world stage, pushing my name beyond the national level and letting the world know who Dalton Smith is. I want to, and I feel like this is the year to do it, and a win against Jose Zepeda will put me on the next pedestal.”
Smith has had 11 stoppages in his 15 wins, and in his last fight he scored a stunning knockout of Sam Maxwell, knocking him down with a sickle in the seventh round. It would be a big announcement if he wins again on the inside distance, but Smith is the candidate because he can win fairly easily with this card.
The only women's bout on the bill is a stunning all-British showdown as Sandy Ryan defends her WBO welterweight title against Terry Harper.
Ryan, 30, won the vacant belt a year ago by defeating Marie Pier Hall in Cardiff and retained it in a split draw with Jessica McCaskill in September. Harper is a much more experienced pro, but is three years Ryan's junior and has fallen back to welterweight after three fights at light-middle where he won the WBA strap.
And since Ryan went into this game with a complete overhaul of his team, including changing managers and trainers after the last game and completely relocating to the United States following the draw against MacAskill, there are a lot of things going on here. There's a conspiracy.
“I came here for about four weeks to finish camp before my last game and I loved it,” Ryan said. “The people in the gym have become very friendly. They welcomed me back and it was a great decision I made.”
This game is hard to pick, especially since there are over 10 frenetic 2-minute rounds. Both fighters come into this fight coming off draws, so it's very likely that another fight will take place here.
It's also a big night in Campbell Hatton's career as he faces Central Area light welterweight champion Jimmy Joe Flint in the first 10 rounds for his first professional title.
Hatton, 23, has a record of 14-0 (5 losses), with four suspensions coming in his last six fights, and is starting to really find his feet as a professional. Flint, who won the title 12 months ago by defeating undefeated Joe Garside, is another step up for Hatton, who has not boxed since beating Jamie Sampson in October.
This could develop into the most entertaining fight on the card, with both men stylistically similar and willing to come forward and exchange. And even though Flint is the defending champion, he knows he has everything to gain by being the first man to beat Hatton. Still, the ever-growing “Hurricane” can dig deep to win the belt on points.
There could also be fireworks in the super welterweight division if Leeds' unbeaten man Ishmael Davies goes up against the returning Troy Williamson for 12 threes.
Williamson has lost two of his last three fights, with a modest six-round win over Ramiro Blanco sandwiched between a December 2022 fight against Josh Kelley and his previous fight against Caoich Ajiarko. . But the experienced Darlington man knows that if he can beat Davis here, he could get the blow he needs in his career.
Black Panther, who has 12 wins with six stoppages, has played primarily against journeymen in his career so far, but defeated Ewan McKenzie 8-0 in his last match, the best of his career to date. He won the fight and also recorded consecutive knockout wins. four. Williamson will step up again, but it may be a bridge too far for the 28-year-old from across Yorkshire.
Elsewhere, Mansfield's super bantamweight prospect Nico Lavers steps up to the 10-round limit at his third successive Matchroom show in Sheffield. The 24-year-old is part of coach Grant Smith's Steel City Gym and has been a mainstay on Dalton's undercard.
He beat Alberto Motos in six overs in July, and three months later beat Ryan Walker in eight overs, injuring both eyes. This time, former Southern Area champion Milga of Southend stands in his way. It's a step up for the Reivers, but they should be able to win on points.
The card also features three early six-rounders, including 7-0 Yorkshire middleweight Conan Murray, while Emmanuel Buttigieg takes on Bartlomiej Stryczek in a light-middleweight contest. They hope to improve to 3 wins and 0 losses in head-to-head matches.
In the light heavyweight division, Sheffield's Liam Cameron continues his comeback. The 33-year-old has been out of the ring for five years after receiving an incredible four-year suspension in 2018 after testing positive for trace amounts of cocaine metabolites. But this is his third fightback and first on such a stage.
Verdict – Good test for Smith, but shrewd matchmaking will definitely prove itself in practice.
