Dalton Smith says he’s prepared for a unification battle with both Shakur Stevenson or Teofimo Lopez after he claimed the WBC super-lightweight title and believes rival Adam Azim has to show himself at world degree earlier than they battle.
Smith turned Britain’s newest boxing world champion after knocking out Subriel Matias within the fifth spherical in Brooklyn.
That prolonged his unbeaten report as a professional to 19-0 when a proper hook dropped Puerto Rico’s Matias and the referee known as for the stoppage, regardless of Matias trying to get to his ft.
The Sheffield fighter had rocked his opponent with one other proper hand earlier in the identical spherical.
Smith will goal a unification battle with both Shakur Stevenson or Teofimo Lopez
Now, all consideration is beginning to flip to who Smith will face subsequent and whether or not a unification battle is now on the playing cards with the winner of the battle between Lopez, who defends his WBO super-lightweight title, and Stevenson in New York on January 31.
The unbeaten Stevenson will likely be bidding to turn out to be a four-weight world champion when he steps up from light-weight to problem Brooklyn’s Lopez, who’s making the fourth defence of his WBO belt.
Smith says he’ll almost definitely be in New York to look at that battle and may have a eager eye on the 2 fighters he has in his sights.
Smith’s stoppage victory has moved his line of sight when it comes to future fights
“I will probably be over there watching it. It is a great fight and obviously I have my eyes on that as a potential opponent for those guys next. It is going to be good and it is going to be a great fight,” Smith instructed Sky Sports activities.
“I am favouring Shakur (Stevenson) on points.”
Would Smith want a selected opponent out of the 2? He says, simply as he did towards Matias, he’ll tackle whoever with a view to obtain his subsequent aim.
“Either. I always said I want to be a world champion, a WBC world champion and I will fight whoever to do that,” he added.
“I did that and it will be the same process for the future ahead. You fight whoever you have got to fight.
“We’ll take every battle at a time, however we’ll see how far we get. I imagine in myself that I might be a world champion, I’ve executed that.
“Let’s see what more we can achieve.”
‘Larger fights’ first as time will inform if Azim is ‘adequate’ for world title
Discuss of a unification bout means consideration has been coupled with hypothesis of Smith taking up Adam Azim after the latter fights Gustavo Lemos later this month.
Whereas Smith hopes for British boxing that Azim has what it takes to place himself in world title rivalry sooner or later, he’s presently focusing on “bigger fights”.
Adam Azim presently has 14 wins and 0 losses in his profession
“I know Gustavo (Lemos), he’s my sparring partner from the last fight – not the world title, the one before,” Smith stated.
“I had him over for a couple of weeks. He is a good guy and obviously I am there supporting Adam as well. I don’t want Adam to have a downfall. It will be a good fight.
“I believe he’s adequate to go on to win a world title however time will inform and I need him to go on and obtain these issues as a result of it is higher for us.
“Once someone gets themselves in that position for that fight, then it makes sense. But as of now, you know, I believe I deserve those bigger fights.”
Azim had already beforehand responded to feedback from Smith concerning the chance to battle him and believes he has the time in his profession to get to that very same degree.
Certainly, he would relish taking him on in a unification battle of their very own down the road.
Azim relinquished the European tremendous‑light-weight title in April 2024, which quashed a compulsory defence towards Smith.
“It’s great news for me. The fight’s getting bigger. If I win a world title, we’ll have a massive unification in Britain,” Azim had beforehand stated.
“A bit like Carl Frampton vs Scott Quigg. We’ve had Amir Khan vs Kell Brook; Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr. You’ve got Nigel Benn and then you’ve got Chris Eubank Sr. This is the next one.
“He is most likely aiming it at me, however look, I am nonetheless younger.
“He’s 28, I’m still 23. I’ve got plenty of time in my career. He’s done that at 28. Imagine me doing that earlier in my career. I’ve still got years in front of me.
“I believe once we find yourself combating one another, you are going to see the spark that each of us have.”
