The bout had originally been scheduled for June 6 but was postponed after Smith suffered an elbow injury during training. The delay pushed back the unbeaten champion’s first defense of the title he captured earlier this year.
Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) won the WBC 140-pound belt in January 2026, stopping champion Subriel Matias in five rounds, and will now make his first appearance as champion in front of his hometown fans. The 29-year-old has steadily climbed the rankings over the past several years and enters the fight looking to strengthen his position as one of the division’s leading names.
Puello (24-1, 10 KOs) is still scheduled to face Miguel Ángel Bolaño in a 10-round non-title bout on July 18 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The stay-busy fight is expected to serve as his final outing before challenging Smith for the WBC title on October 24, provided he comes through without an upset or injury.
The postponement gave Smith additional time to recover from the elbow injury without forcing the WBC to strip him of the title. With a new date now in place, both fighters can resume preparations for one of the division’s more significant title fights this fall.
The winner could be in line for bigger opportunities in a crowded junior welterweight division that features several world champions and contenders pursuing unification bouts. A successful first title defense for Smith would further establish him as a key player at 140 pounds, while Puello will attempt to spoil the homecoming and regain a world championship.
The Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello WBC junior welterweight title fight is being rescheduled for Oct 24 in Sheffield, England, sources tell @ringmagazine.
The fight was postponed from its June date after Smith injured his elbow. pic.twitter.com/w1cJzSw6BP
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 10, 2026
Read the full article here