Dalton Smith Retains WBC Title in Sheffield with Split-Decision Win Over Alberto Puello

Sheffield's Dalton Smith kept his WBC super lightweight belt on Saturday night, edging Alberto Puello by split decision in front of a raucous hometown crowd at the Utilita Arena. The judges scored the bout 115-113 and 116-112 for Smith, with a third card of 115-113 for Puello, handing the 28-year-old his 18th consecutive victory and first successful defense of the title he won last August. The win cements Smith's status as one of British boxing's brightest stars and sets up potential unification clashes at 140 pounds. Puello, a former WBA champion from the Dominican Republic, dropped to 23-1 and argued the decision was unjust, but Smith's cleaner work in the middle rounds proved decisive. With the victory, Smith improves to 18-0 with 13 knockouts and strengthens his case for a blockbuster domestic showdown against the winner of the Jack Catterall-Regis Prograis fight. The Sheffield fighter called for a stadium bout next, telling fans 'the best is yet to come.'