Dalton Smith eyes Shakur Stevenson at Hillsborough after Puello win

Dalton Smith wants Shakur Stevenson at Hillsborough, and Eddie Hearn believes the American would jump at the chance of a stadium fight in front of more than 30,000 fans in Sheffield.

Nothing has been agreed and no date, venue or opponent has been confirmed. But Smith made his ambitions clear after retaining his WBC light-welterweight title with a split-decision win over Alberto Puello at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield on Saturday.

Smith edges Puello on split decision

Two judges, Kieran McCann and Jon Llona, scored the fight 115-113 to Smith, while Ray Danseco had it 116-112 to Puello, according to the WBC. It was the first defence of the title Smith won from Subriel Matias in January, and took the 29-year-old’s unbeaten record to 20-0.

The fight was so close that even other fighters disagreed on it. British rival Adam Azim gave his verdict, saying Smith won by a round.

Shakur Stevenson: ‘Ricky Hatton and Mayweather days’

Asked about Stevenson after the fight, Smith pointed to one of the biggest nights in British boxing history. “I have a lot of respect for Shakur, he’s one hell of a fighter,” he said. “This takes me back to the Ricky Hatton and Mayweather days. We can build something good.”

Hatton challenged Floyd Mayweather for the WBC welterweight title in Las Vegas in December 2007, with thousands of British fans making the trip. Mayweather stopped him in the 10th round.

Stevenson is the unbeaten Ring and WBO light-welterweight champion, having beaten Teofimo Lopez in New York in January. He is also a promotional free agent, after securing his release from Zuffa Boxing earlier this month without fighting for the promotion. He plans to set up his own promotional company. The Independent understands he is expected to agree a deal with DAZN, which has an exclusive agreement with Smith’s promoter, Matchroom.

Hearn: ‘They are No 1 and No 2’

Hearn said the two men are at the top of the division. “Right now you have to say Dalton Smith is No 1 and arguably the best in the division this year based on performances, but Shakur is a phenomenal talent and you have to give him the nod in terms of his lifetime achievements,” he said. “For me they are No 1 and No 2 in the division so that’s a natural fight.”

Asked whether Stevenson would travel to Sheffield, Hearn said: “I don’t think he knows a lot about Sheffield. But what I do know is that Shakur Stevenson will fight anybody.” He added that Stevenson “will be well up for fighting Dalton Smith and to do it in front of 30,000 in the UK.”

Why Smith wants Hillsborough

Smith has made no secret of where he wants to fight next. “I want Hillsborough,” he said at his post-fight press conference. “I want a big fight at Hillsborough. I want Arctic Monkeys, I want a proper Sheffield night.”

Hillsborough is the home of Sheffield Wednesday, the club Smith has supported all his life. Hearn said the Wednesday owners were ringside on Saturday, and the club has reportedly contacted Sheffield City Council about the licence needed to stage a world title fight at the ground. The Owls are also going through changes on the pitch, having sacked head coach Henrik Pedersen on Sunday.

Smith’s other options

Stevenson is not the only name in the frame. WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell is another potential unification opponent, while the vacant IBF title is due to be contested by Lindolfo Delgado and Arthur Biyarslanov in Riyadh [EDITOR: confirm status].

Closer to home, Smith has said he would welcome a fight with unbeaten British rival Adam Azim at Hillsborough in 2027, and Mark Chamberlain has also been linked with a Sheffield stadium night.

For now, Smith is heading on holiday. But his message to the crowd on Saturday was clear: “It’s got to be Hillsborough now.”