On Saturday night, promoters Eddie Hearn and Dalton Smith (16-0, 12 KOs) announced that Dalton defeated journeyman Jose Zepeda (37-5, 28 KOs) by fifth-round KO at Sheffield Arena. Afterwards, they didn't seem to have the same idea. Sheffield, UK.
Smith stopped Zepeda with a right body shot in the fifth round and immediately called Adam Azim. The look on Hearn's face when Dalton said that was as if he had failed. That's not the fight Hearn wants against Dalton.
Hearn's face said it all.''Well done, Dalton.. ” He has the spotlight on him and should have capitalized on it by calling out the winner of the April 20 WBC title fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia. Hearn looked like he needed a stiff drink after Dalton called and ruined Azim.
Dalton's mysterious goal
Instead, Dalton went rogue and criticized Adam Azim, who is not world-class and is only a prospect at best. Where is the ambition? Dalton is almost 28 years old, but he hasn't shown any desire to compete at the world level. Dalton has no confidence.
Considering Jose Zepeda isn't ranked in the top 15 by any alphabet organization and entered tonight's contest with a sad 1-2 record, you can't call him world-class.
He hopes to fight Devin Haney next for the WBC light welterweight world title, but that's because Dalton has life-changing money on the line, strap holder at EBU 140 pounds. Not by fighting Azim. It's more of a domestic level and there's no green in that matchup.
Where's the hunger, Dalton?
“Tonight I just showed where I belong,” said Dalton Smith of his fourth-round knockout win over journeyman Jose Zepeda in Sheffield, England. “If you switch it off again, you'll see what Jose will do. He'll put people to sleep.
“I don't often call names, but Adam Azim, where are you? That European title is what I want.”
Eddie Hearn said of Smith: “It was just a world-class performance.” “That was a big statement at the world level. “He said, 'I want to work hard for the WBC World Championship.' I think we did that. We're going to be in the top five.
“This young man is 16-0 and well on his way to a World Championship spot. What we want to do is chase world champions, but if we have to give Sheffield a big game then we have to I'm going to lower my rank and fight Adam Azim.
“Right now, Adam Azim has not been able to lace up this guy's boots. We're going for a world championship. Get out of our way, we'll get through,” Hearn said of Dalton. I did.
