Boxing

Dalton Smith stuns Subriel Matias KO in the fifth round to win the title

Published

9 months ago

January 11, 2026

Just when it looked like Dalton Smith had used the wrong strategy against the heavily armed Subriel Matias, staying in the pocket and punching, the British fighter scored a stunning fifth-round knockout to become the WBC junior welterweight champion in a thrilling fight at the Barclays Center in Recent York.

Fighting in Sheffield, UK, Smith (19-0, 14 KO) was drawn into an ill-advised head-to-head fight with Matias after the first round. While Matias welcomed the close combat, Smith persevered and weathered the storm. Just when it seemed Matias was breaking him down, Smith unleashed a pair of right hands in the fifth round that made him a world champion. The first one shook Matias badly, the second one knocked him down tough. Matias fought back and eventually got back to his feet, but was seriously injured when the referee stopped the fight with less than a minute left in the round.

“For the first time in my career, I was the underdog and the first time I faced a monster,” Smith said. “I canceled all the noise. Tonight was my night.”

Smith made his US debut in a fight with Matias, which almost didn’t happen. In November, before the fight, Matias tested positive for a banned substance in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test. However, following an investigation in December, the WBC found him not guilty of violating its drug policy. This would ultimately benefit Smith, who pulled off an upset in a fight full of fireworks from the opening bell. Matias (23-3, 22 KO) moved forward and tried to put pressure on Smith with his hefty hands and high punching power. Smith initially tried to stay on the outside and in the box, but was pulled in in Round 3.

The fight seemed to go in Matias’ favor, as he rocked Smith with uppercuts and punch combinations. But Smith refused to leave and responded with combinations. Matias’ bravado prevented him from retreating and finally caught up with him in round 5 when Smith stepped back and fired a tough right hand that caught Matias in the chin. Matias, who had not been knocked out before the fight, swung at Smith and was met with a second right hand that sent him to the canvas. And that was all Smith needed to become world champion.

“He beat Matias at his own game,” said Smith’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “Matias has never been down or injured before, and now Dalton Smith has declared himself the modern superstar of the 140-pound division. The future is unbelievable.”

Matias won the WBC junior welterweight title by majority vote over Alberto Puello in July and has long been considered the terror of the division. But Smith sent a message that he wouldn’t let one of the toughest fighters in the division stop him from achieving his goal in Brooklyn. And now he will welcome all challengers to his world title.

“Take up the challenge,” Smith said. “I’m one of the best, if not the best in the division. I’m ready to mix with everyone.”

Boxing

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Scorecard Analysis: Key Highlights and Insights

Published

7 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Scorecard Analysis: Key Highlights and Insights"

World Boxing News provides a round-by-round scorecard as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher and Pirotton collide over ten rounds at heavyweight as Zuffa Boxing stages its latest card in the United Kingdom.

The Romford Bull returns to action with Pirotton standing in his way as the British heavyweight looks to continue his climb.

WBN provides a live scorecard of the contest below, plus live results throughout the event.

Fisher vs Pirotton Scorecard

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton

(Round-by-round scorecard will refresh every 2 mins)

Heavyweight
Copper Box Arena, London
10×3

Round	Fisher	Pirotton
Round 1	10	9
Round 2	10	9
Round 3	9	10
Round 4	9	10
Round 5	10	9
Round 6	10	9
Round 7	10	9
Round 8	10	9
Round 9	10	9
Round 10	10	9
WBN Totals:	98	92

Official Result: FISHER MD – 98-92, 96-95, 95-95

Preview

Fisher faces Pirotton in the first fight of his lucrative deal with Dana White and Zuffa Boxing.

The Briton enters the contest with a 14-1 record, while Pirotton brings a 12-2 record into the Zuffa Boxing 11 bout.

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

The Fisher vs Pirotton event unfolds alongside more live coverage on World Boxing News.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Boxing

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

Published

10 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton Results: Latest Fight Outcome and Highlights

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Johnny Fisher faces Michael Pirotton on Zuffa Boxing 11 at the Copper Box Arena in London.

Fisher returns to heavyweight action over ten rounds against Pirotton as part of Zuffa Boxing’s latest event in the United Kingdom.

Craig Richards faces Radivoje Kalajdzic at light heavyweight, while Lee Cutler takes on Louis Greene and Cesar Mateo Tapia faces Leo Ruiz at middleweight.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.

Results

All times are local BST.

23:41

Johnny Fisher defeated Michael Pirotton by majority decision after ten competitive heavyweight rounds at the Copper Box Arena. WBN scored the fight 98-92 for Fisherwhile the official judges returned scores of 98-92 and 96-95 for Fisher, with the third scoring it 95-95.

22:42

Radivoje Kalajdzic improved to 31-3 with a unanimous decision over Craig Richards, who dropped to 20-5-1 after a good ten-round scrap. Both men had their moments and hurt each other at times before “Hot Rod” got the verdict on the scorecards, which included knocking Richards down for the first time in his career.

21:43

Lee Cutler carded a unanimous decision win over Louis Greene in their ten-round middleweight clash. Judges scorecard 98-92 and 97-93 twice in favor on Cutler, who improves to 17-2.

20:52

Ahead of the three main bouts, Zuffa’s only female fighter, Kayla Allendefeated Edina Kiss via TKO in their super lightweight bout.

20:32

Leo Ruiz overcame Cesar Tapia over 10 rounds at middleweight, scoring a unanimous decision to move to 18-1 as Ruiz Tapia suffered a first loss.

19:29

Alex MacMillan moved to 5-0 with a second-round stoppage of Guillaume Azagier, who went down twice in the opening round and again before the finish at 0:32 of the second.

18:40

Rogelio Romero improved to 7-0 with a third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Aurel Ignat, ending the cruiserweight contest at 2:12.

18:24

Alexis De la Cerda improved to 10-0 with a unanimous decision over Cain Lewis, taking the eight-round contest 80-72, 79-74 and 79-73.

17:42

Fred Pullen marked his professional debut with a four-round points victory over Leonardo Faretina, who was dropped in the second round.

Remaining Bouts

Johnny Fisher vs. Michael Pirotton — 10 rounds, heavyweight

Craig Richards vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic — 10 rounds, light heavyweight

TV Coverage

The event is available live on Sky in the United Kingdom and Paramount+.

Follow WBN’s live boxing coverage throughout the event.

About the Author

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Boxing

Davies vs Collins & Heaney vs Warburton II Results: Full Fight Recap

Published

11 hours ago

September 26, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Davies vs Collins & Heaney vs Warburton II Results: Full Fight Recap"

World Boxing News provides results and updates as Liam Davies faces Nathaniel Collins in the main event at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham.

Davies and Collins collide over 12 rounds for the EBU European featherweight title at the top of the Queensberry Promotions card.

Luke McCormack faces Kay Prospere for the vacant British super lightweight title, while Bradley Goldsmith takes on Amir Abubaker for the IBF International middleweight title.

WBN provides results and updates from every bout as they happen.

Results

All times are local BST.

23:11

Gerome Warburton defeated Nathan Heaney for the second time running as the middleweight put an exclamation mark on his first victory.

Heaney walks away from the sport having been an entertainer through a long carer, without reaching the heights of a world title.

22:04

Liam Davies improved to 19-1 after Nathaniel Collins retired at the end of the seventh round due to a cut over his right eye. Collins had also been dropped in the opening round as Davies successfully defended the European featherweight title.

21:22

Bradley Goldsmith improved to 17-1 with a seventh-round stoppage of Amir Abubaker to retain his IBF International middleweight title. Abubaker went down in the fourth and three times in the seventh before the finish at 2:42.

20:10

Lewis Richardson improved to 3-0 with a shutout six-round points victory over Ivan Trofimovich, earning a 60-54 decision.

19:56

Luke McCormack moved to 6-0 and claimed the vacant British super lightweight title with a tenth-round knockout of Kay Prospere, who was counted out after a right uppercut at 1:28.

18:55

Michael Hussain moved to 5-0 with a four-round points victory over Nabil Ahmed, earning a 39-38 decision.

18:11

Nelson Birchall moved to 12-0 with a third-round stoppage of Lewis Morris, who went down before the finish came at 1:12. Lasha Guruli also remained unbeaten at 5-0 after edging Hughie Wilson 77-75 over eight rounds.

17:22

Early action saw John Tom Varey and Reese Lynch claim four-round victories to move to 3-0 and 5-0 respectively.