‘Smash him to bits’ – Frank Smith predicts Dalton Smith vs Adam Azim

On January 10, at the Barclays Center in New York City, Subriel Matias vs Dalton Smith headlined a Fresh Productionscard with Matias’ WBC super lightweight title up for grabs. Fight fans in select countries were able to see the entire event as a pay-per-view (PPV) with PPV.com.

It was an entertaining bout, with both having success, before the Sheffield fighter knocked down the heavy-handed Puerto Rican, leading to the referee waving the fight off. This historic stoppage win crowned Smith the new WBC super lightweight champion. Attention has quickly turned to the future for the new WBC champion. Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith has spoken to Sky Sports about a potential Smith vs Azim fight, and the future for “Thunder.”

Dalton Smith Defeats Subriel Matias in New York City

Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) started the fight using his jab and boxing on the outside, but soon was trading heavy shots with Matias (23-3, 22 KOs). The Puerto Rican was having success and throwing eye-catching flurries, but the cleaner work was coming from Smith.

During the fifth round, Smith landed two big right hands that wobbled Matias. he then followed up and landed a clubbing right hand that sent Matias to the canvas. Despite making it to his feet, he was on unsteady legs, and the referee waved the fight off, awarding Smith the WBC super lightweight title.

Frank Smith Predicts Smith vs Azim

The newly crowned WBC super-lightweight champion now has a plethora of options available to him. He has long been linked to a fight with fellow Brit Adam Azim (14-0, 11 KOs). However, Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith recently spoke to Sky Sports, calling it disrespectful to talk about Azim on the same level as the new WBC champion:

“I think now it’s wrong to mention Adam Azim on Dalton Smith’s level. That’s nothing against Adam Azim, I like him a lot, I think he’s a very good boxer, but he hasn’t done what Dalton Smith has done.

“Dalton has done it the traditional route. He’s won the English, the British, the Commonwealth, the European, all of those belts and worked his way into a mandatory position, gone in there against the bogeyman of the division that no one wanted to fight and won a world title on away soil,” said Frank Smith.

When asked whether an Azim fight would interest Smith, The Matchroom CEO said: “It comes down to what Dalton Smith wants. He is the world champion who has gone and done it the hard way. He’s done everything asked of him.

“It can’t be, ‘Oh, Adam Azim wants to fight now.’ I’m sure he does! He didn’t want to fight when it got ordered.

“We promote Dalton Smith, he’s our focus. Our job is to deliver the best possible fights for him – the biggest opportunities.

“If the Adam Azim fight is a huge fight in a year’s time, is that a fight to look at? For sure. But it’s on Dalton Smith’s terms. Adam Azim is not really relevant when it comes down to that.

“If Adam Azim goes and wins a world title, it’s a huge unification fight. And again, that’s not in any way talking him down. I think he’s a very good fighter. I think he’s got a massive future. But he’s just not on Dalton’s level right now.”