Tag: Dalton Smith

Dalton Smith takes significant step forward with KO of Jose Zepeda

Dalton Smith took a significant step forward with a knockout of Jose Zepeda on Saturday in England

Dalton Smith took a significant step in his career Saturday in Sheffield, England, his hometown.

The 140-pounder stopped three-time title challenger Jose Zepeda with a right to the body in the fifth round, moving him closer to legitimate title contention.

“A lot of people thought this fight was too soon for me,” said Smith (16-0, 12 KOs). “That made me train harder, and I showed where I belong tonight. I was hitting him with some clean shots. He walked on to an uppercut, and then I knew I could hurt him.”

Smith hurt Zepeda (37-5, 28 KOs) with a right uppercut and followed with the right hand to the gut about a minute into Round 5, forcing Zepeda  to take a knee in pain.

The American was counted out in that position, giving Smith his biggest victory. The official time of the stoppage was 1:25.

The 27-year-old will have to wait in line to face the big names at junior welterweight. For now, he has his eye on unbeaten countryman Adam Azim, who is the European champion.

“I don’t call many names out but Adim Azim, where are you at?” he said. “I bet he vacates that title. I respect him, but the European title is something I want.”

Meanwhile, Zepeda’s days as an elite fighter fight me be over. The 34-year-old from the Los Angeles area has now lost three of his past four fights, to Regis Prograis, Richardson Hitchins and now Smith.

Dalton Smith takes significant step forward with KO of Jose Zepeda

Dalton Smith took a significant step forward with a knockout of Jose Zepeda on Saturday in England

Dalton Smith took a significant step in his career Saturday in Sheffield, England, his hometown.

The 140-pounder stopped three-time title challenger Jose Zepeda with a right to the body in the fifth round, moving him closer to legitimate title contention.

“A lot of people thought this fight was too soon for me,” said Smith (16-0, 12 KOs). “That made me train harder, and I showed where I belong tonight. I was hitting him with some clean shots. He walked on to an uppercut, and then I knew I could hurt him.”

Smith hurt Zepeda (37-5, 28 KOs) with a right uppercut and followed with the right hand to the gut about a minute into Round 5, forcing Zepeda  to take a knee in pain.

The American was counted out in that position, giving Smith his biggest victory. The official time of the stoppage was 1:25.

The 27-year-old will have to wait in line to face the big names at junior welterweight. For now, he has his eye on unbeaten countryman Adam Azim, who is the European champion.

“I don’t call many names out but Adim Azim, where are you at?” he said. “I bet he vacates that title. I respect him, but the European title is something I want.”

Meanwhile, Zepeda’s days as an elite fighter fight me be over. The 34-year-old from the Los Angeles area has now lost three of his past four fights, to Regis Prograis, Richardson Hitchins and now Smith.

Fight Week: British 140-pound contender Dalton Smith to face veteran Jose Zepeda

Fight Week: British contender Dalton Smith is scheduled to face veteran Jose Zepeda on Saturday in Sheffield, England.

FIGHT WEEK

British 140-pound contender Dalton Smith could face his toughest test yet when he meets veteran Jose Zepeda on Saturday in Sheffield, England.

DALTON SMITH (15-0, 11 KOs)
VS. JOSE ZEPEDA (37-4, 28 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, March 23
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Odds: Smith 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Significance (up to five stars): ***
  • Also on the card: Sandy Ryan vs. Terri Harper, welterweights (for Ryan’s WBO title); Campbell Hatton vs. James Flint, junior welterweights; Ishmael Davis vs. Troy Williamson, junior middleweights
  • Background: Smith, who holds the British 140-pound championship, has made his mark on the national and European level. Now it’s time to take on the world. That starts with a fight against three-time world title challenger Zepeda in Smith’s hometown of Sheffield. Smith, 27, is a well-schooled boxer-puncher. His power was on full display in his most recent bout, in which he overcame multiple cuts to knock out Londoner Sam Maxwell with a single right hand in the seventh round last July. That victory followed unanimous decisions over Kaisee Benjamin and Billy Allington in 2022 and early last year. Smith is ranked No. 12 by the WBC. Zepeda, 34, can’t afford to lose if he hopes to remain a relevant fighter. The Los Angeles-area fighter has had his share of success – including victories over Ivan Baranchyk, Jose Pedraza and Hank Lundy – but he’s 1-2 in his last three fights and has failed in three attempts to capture a world title. He had bad luck in his first try, when he dislocated his shoulder and had to quit after two rounds against then-champion Terry Flanagan in 2015. He came closest to winning one when he lost a majority decision to then-titlist Jose Ramirez in 2019. Then, in November 2022, he was stopped in 11 rounds by Regis Prograis. He was nearly shut out by Richardson Hitchins last September, raising questions about his future as an elite boxer.

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