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

Published

7 months ago

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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.”

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Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

Published

16 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

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Boxing

Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

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17 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

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Boxing

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Published

18 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.

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