Dalton Smith win over Subriel Matias to win the WBC light-welterweight title in New York was one of the most exciting moments of his career. The undefeated British boxer knocked out the feared Puerto Rican champion in the fifth round at the Barclays Center, bringing his professional record to 19-0.
Dalton Smith vs. Subriel Matias was billed as a classic clash of styles. The fight electrified the crowd and sent shockwaves through the boxing world.
Matias Is known for his devastating power and aggressive pressure, which gave him a dangerous reputation in the ring. Smith, on the other hand, was a relatively unknown challenger who wanted to make a name for himself on the world stage.
Smith’s emphatic stoppage not only made him the new WBC super-lightweight champion, but it also showed that the 140-pound division was changing, making him one of the best boxers in the world.
A Career‑Defining Night at the Barclays Center
The title fight between Smith and Subriel Matias took place on January 10, 2026, at the famous Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which has hosted some of boxing’s most memorable nights. Smith risked everything in his career here to win his first world championship.
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Smith was calm and confident from the start. At first, he used sharp, straight punches and a strong jab to keep Matias at bay, showing a level of tactical maturity that surprised many boxing fans around the world.
Matias, a scary puncher with 22 knockouts on his record before this fight, tried to put Smith under pressure, but Smith’s smart aggression kept him in the fight every round.
As the fight progressed, the physicality increased, and both fighters exchanged hard shots. Smith even got a cut over his left eye when their heads hit, which shows how intense the action had become.
The Knockout That Changed Everything
In the fifth round, Dalton Smith and Subriel Matias had their defining moment. Smith threw a perfectly placed overhand right that knocked Matias down to the canvas. It was the first time in the champion’s professional career that he had been knocked down.
Matias bravely got back up, but he was clearly unsteady and couldn’t fully recover. The referee saw that Smith’s opponent was in bad shape and stopped the fight at 2 minutes and 24 seconds of round five, giving Smith a technical knockout win and the WBC super-lightweight title.
It was the moment Smith had been dreaming of since he was a kid, the end of years of hard work and dedication. Fans in Britain and around the world were happy for him when he won, even though he was the underdog going into the fight.
What the Win Means for Dalton Smith
The result of the Dalton Smith vs. Subriel Matias fight immediately made Smith a bigger name in boxing. The 28-year-old from Sheffield, England, is now one of the UK’s five active male world titleholders. He joins an elite group of British world champions, including Fabio Wardley, Lewis Crocker, Jazza Dickens, and Nick Ball.
Smith was fighting for the first time for a world title, but he fought with a lack of fear and smart tactics that showed he was experienced. He could box from a distance, trade punches on the inside, and take the lead when it mattered most.
Smith said in an interview after the fight that he hadn’t followed the original plan exactly, but he said that being able to change things up during the fight was a big part of his success.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve been the underdog and the first time I went against a monster. I cancelled all the noise. Tonight was my night.” ESPN quotes Smith.
Besides the title itself, beating a heavyweight like Matias is a huge boost for your mental health. Smith showed that he can handle stress and challenges, which will help him as a champion.
Matias’ Legacy and the Upset
Subriel Matias came into the fight with Dalton Smith with a scary resume and the look of a knockout artist. Known for his aggressive style and punching power, Matias had become a difficult challenge for many fighters in the division.
But the knockout loss not only cost him the WBC title; it was also the first time in his professional career that he lost by early stoppage. This was a big moment in the history of the light-welterweight division.
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Matias’ recent career had been marked by both triumphs and challenges. In July 2025, he beat Alberto Puello to win the WBC title, but he also got into trouble when he failed a drug test months before the Smith fight. This didn’t stop the fight from happening, though.
Fans may remember the Dalton Smith vs. Subriel Matias fight as the night Matias’ aura of invincibility was broken and the fight that put Smith in the spotlight in boxing around the world.
Reaction from the Boxing World
The reaction to the Dalton Smith vs Subriel Matias upset was swift. Eddie Hearn, the promoter, called Smith a “new superstar” in the 140-pound division and praised his toughness and ability to adapt. Boxing fans praised Smith’s performance not just for the win, but also for how mature his style was.
Both fans and experts agreed that Smith’s win has changed the division, possibly setting up future high-profile fights against other top light-welterweights. Names like Teofimo Lopez, Shakur Stevenson, and Richardson Hitchins have already come up in talks about what might happen in the future, which makes Smith’s championship reign even more interesting.
The fact that Dalton Smith vs. Subriel Matias happened in the U.S. and ended in such a dramatic way makes the result even more important for the British champion and the boxing world as a whole.
The Road Ahead for Dalton Smith
Smith’s future is wide open now that he has the WBC title around his waist. He might defend his title against mandatory challengers or look for unification fights to make his legacy even stronger.
His win over Matias has put him in the running for the best fighters in the division, and with talk of big-money fights already going around, fans are clearly eager to see what Smith does next.
Smith’s win also gives the British boxing scene a boost, making the UK look like a place where world-class boxers are born. His story of going from being a champion in his own country to a world champion is an inspiration for young boxers back home.
Conclusion: A New Champion Is Crowned
The fight between Dalton Smith and Subriel Matias will go down in history as a huge event in the sport. It was a night when an underdog stepped up, won a world title, and changed what people thought would happen next in the light-welterweight division.
Dalton Smith’s rise from challenger to world champion puts him in the spotlight, and his decisive fifth-round stoppage of Matias in New York guarantees that his name will be spoken alongside the greats of the sport.
Smith’s journey is just beginning, and the boxing world is excited to see what happens next. He now has a perfect record of 19–0 and a world title.
