British boxer Dalton Smith demolishes rival with incredible KO on US soil to become world champion

Dalton Smith crushed Subriel Matias in New York to claim a world title for the first time in his career.

‘Thunder’ was making a significant step-up to a title shot after claiming the WBC Silver title with victory over Mathieu Germain in his last outing in April last year.

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He would travel to New York’s Barclays Center to take on 140lbs WBC champion Matias, who won the infamous belt when he outpointed Alberto Puello in July 2025.

There had been much pre-fight controversy, with Matias testing positive for banned substance Ostarine in a drugs test prior to the clash.

But the fight went ahead with Matias subsequently cleared to fight by VADA and the WBC due to the low concentration of the substance that was discovered.

The adverse finding didn’t disrupt Smith’s maiden bid for world glory and delivered on his promise to do it on foreign soil in emphatic fashion.

Smith’s stoppage of Matias – how it happened

It was a slow start to the contest with the Briton boxing on the back foot and looking to keep his distance against a physically imposing Matias.

But things caught life in the third stanza, with the pair coming to centre ring and fighting on the inside, with the Puerto Rican looking to have the slight upper hand.

Things became tricky in the fourth for Smith, who suffered a cut after an accidental clash of heads in a close quarters round.

But he turned up the heat in the fifth round and pushed for an early night, drawing roars from his passionate support.

He landed two booming two-punch combinations which rattled through the guard of Matias, before a single booming right hand dropped his opponent on his back.

The champion clambered back to his feet desperately but the referee deemed he was no longer fit to continue and waved off the contest.

Smith partook in wild celebrations, given the phenomenal feat, as he jumped around in jubilation with his team.

It saw him become the UK’s fifth active male world champion alongside Fabio Wardley, Lewis Crocker, Jazza Dickens and Nick Ball.

What next for Dalton Smith?

There are some huge fights in a stacked division for Smith, who will be keen to unify as soon as possible.

Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson will duel for the WBO title on January 31, and Smith will have a keen eye on them given the magnitude of their profiles.

Richardson Hitchins and Gary Russell Jr hold the other belts at the weight, and it is good for Smith to have made his name stateside.

Promoter Eddie Hearn even suggested he may now have earned a stadium fight, at the home of his beloved Sheffield Wednesday Hillsborough.

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But he will need a superstar dance partner to fill the iconic venue in any homecoming.

Although his own name will now reverberate around the sport, having raised his profile to a whole new level.