On paper, it looks like a manageable first defense. The detail that stands out is how long Dalton has been preparing for this opponent and what that preparation was built on.
“We’ve been studying him for the best part of a year,” Smith said recently. “We were preparing for him before Matias beat him.” (BoxingScene)
Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) is coming off the biggest win of his career. The Puello he has been breaking down is the unbeaten titleholder who held the WBC belt before running into Matias. Since that loss, Puello has not fought. There has been no chance to see how he has adjusted or what has changed since losing his title on points.
Dalton’s preparation gives him familiarity, but it also raises a question about relevance. Film from before a loss can only take you so far. A fighter coming off a defeat and time out of the ring can return with different habits or a different level altogether. There is no recent version of Puello to measure.
Smith sounds confident, but not over the top. He called it “a good fight” and pointed to his comfort against southpaws, while adding that there are no easy fights at world level. He isn’t overlooking Puello, but he isn’t describing a problem that forces adjustment either.
The fight fits the homecoming Smith had been targeting. Smith, 29, wanted a Sheffield date, even pushing for Hillsborough Stadium before plans shifted back to the Sheffield Arena. He knows the building, and he already knows the opponent.
That leaves a small question. Dalton is working from a long study period, while Puello hasn’t fought since the loss. The work he’s done is real, but it’s built on who Puello used to be.
Dalton is betting that what he learned still applies, and he’ll find out soon enough.
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