Interviews
Rising UK star Dalton “Thunder” Smith
“One day I will win a world title, just like Charlie and Sunlit [Edwards] have to go to the gym.”
Dalton Smith will fight for the English title in his eighth professional fight this Saturday against Lee Appleyard in a fight with Joshua Buatsi vs Daniel Dos Santos.
“Since I was a little boy, I dreamed of fights like this.
“They’re English Britain’s Rising Star Dalton ‘Thunder’ Smith Along the way you see all the names who owned it. Fighting for the title in England is an honor for me, and this is just the beginning.
“Whatever path my team wants me to take, but it would be nice to win the English, British, Commonwealth, European, etc. titles and eventually win the world titles, but for me I take each fight individually and I am the first springboard “is the English title.”
Although Lee Appleyard is a 22-fight veteran and former English titleholder, he will enter this fight as an 11/11 underdog. Smith is the clear favorite in this fight, which will be his most arduous in his career so far.
“As a professional, 100% [this is my toughest test]. You look at Lee’s record and on paper he is more experienced than me, he has competed in championship rounds, he was already English champion, so it looks like it will be a tough test for me.
“I’ve only had seven fights in my career, I’m a baby in this game, but I feel like it’s the perfect fight at this point in my career and I believe Lee will motivate me and teach me some things.”
Some may say this fight may be a step too early for the 24-year-old, but Smith believes that with his amateur pedigree and especially his participation in the World Series of Boxing, he is in a great position heading into his first title fight.
“It helps me a lot, especially in the position I’m in now.
“People forget that I competed in the World Series of Boxing [WSB] it’s five rounds in itself and you don’t box without knocks, you fight against the best in the world, Russians, Kazakhs and Cubans.
“I’ve been there and done that at 18, so I’ve had that World Series of Boxing experience and boxed against some really tough guys, so it’s just another day at the office for me.
“For the World Series of Boxing, it definitely helps. It’s basically a professional fight and you just don’t build it up with a journeyman like you do in your professional career.
“You could say I had seven professional fights, but you could also say I did. I think it was four or five fights in the World Series of Boxing and that all comes into play.”
Throughout his early professional career, Dalton had the support of his boyhood football team, Sheffield Wednesday, and has recently teamed up with the club to assist the community.
“At Sheffield Wednesday I have always been a supporter of the club and they supported me at the end of my amateur career, which was noted and throughout my professional career they have always been supportive.
“All the Sheffield Wednesday fans and supporters have been supporting me, so it was nice, I’m honored and privileged to receive it.
“I’ve started a partnership with them and in the future we’ll start working with communities, younger kids who don’t have much, and if I can go back to Sheffield Wednesday with the younger generation and give them something, that’s going to be make me see it.
‘Thunder’ has earned plenty of praise after his first seven fights, but he is keenly aware of social media’s fickleness towards sports participants, having seen first-hand how his stablemate and novel IBF Flyweight World Champion, Sunlit Edwards, embraces ‘trolls’ and deals with them.
“It means a lot to me, the support I get and the good comments, but it’s just the beginning of my career. I have to expect negative emotions to come. There will be ups and downs in my career, especially given the current state of social media.
“Sunlit thrives on this. Sunlit likes to deal with trolls, but for me social media is only for my profile and my boxing is just a platform.
“As long as I have good people around me, I know who supports me, that’s all that matters. I think in this day and age of social media you can’t take anything to heart.
“There are always people who doubt you and throw negativity at you, but that’s how you deal with it. I just take it with a pinch of salt.”
Sunlit was Grant Smith’s second world champion after defeating Moruti Mthalane at York Hall last month. It was an achievement that left Dalton ecstatic.
“I buzz for him. I was close to shedding tears when they said, “and novel.” When I look back, I describe it as the art of boxing. This is the art of boxing. To hit and not get hits and do it for 12 innings shows how fit he was, what conditions he was in and what he put into this camp.
“I’m over the moon for him and especially my dad, he’s been there since his amateur career and it’s been nice to see them go through the pros.”
It was Grant Smith, Dalton’s coach and father, who was praised that night for his work in the corner and his guidance. The super-light outfit emphasized the importance of his father’s responsibilities.
“It’s crucial to have a coach in your corner who understands you and gives you the right advice, but doesn’t burden you with it.
“It’s nice to see it because I know my dad, his passion and the challenging work he puts in.
“He doesn’t want the spotlight, the cameras, he doesn’t want his praise shown on TV, he likes to sit in the back, in the shadow.
“He’s in it for the right reasons, he’s in it for his players, he wants his players to have a better life and do well.
“For me, it’s nice to see that people are giving him the recognition he deserves.”
David Benavidez has reignited the war of words between himself and longtime rival Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Although a fight has not yet taken place between the two, Benavidez and Canelo have launched numerous verbal attacks on each other, mainly when the former fought in the super middleweight division.
After “The Mexican Monster” moved up to delicate heavyweight, things went tranquil between the pair for a while – but that has now changed.
Many in the sport believe that Alvarez is shying away from fighting his younger, bigger opponent, even though it is arguably the most financially lucrative fight for him.
And when Benavidez showed up The hustle and bustle of Miami this week he went on an X-rated tirade against the four-weight world champion.
“Honestly, I think Canelo is f*ckin’ f–king! This is just my opinion.
If we ever fight, this man will make well over $100 million.
“He says I have nothing to offer, that I’m a nobody and I need more experience.
“But if you’re going to make $100 million fighting someone who has no experience and all the crap they’re saying about me, why don’t you come in and get the large bucks?
“I’m not afraid of anyone!” I accept challenges. So Canelo and his fans say I bring nothing to the table – everyone is afraid, just like he is afraid.
“If he wants to prove that I’m not shit, come and prove it to everyone. It’s that plain.”
Unfortunately for Benavidez, it looks like the Alvarez fight will never happen as the Guadalajara fighter enters the twilight of his career.
Unified super middleweight champion “Canelo” has not boxed since his September win over Edgar Berlanga, although reports suggest he has agreed terms for a thrilling fight with pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford in September.
As for Benavidez, he will face the toughest test of his career on February 1, when he will lose his job faces the outstanding Cuban amateur David Morrell Jr for the “regular” and interim WBA delicate heavyweight world titles.
Daniel Dubois believes that Tyson Fury will return to the ring and claims that a fight between them may happen.
Fury ended hopes of All-British fights against the likes of Dubois and long-time rival Anthony Joshua after retiring last Monday, less than a month after his second successive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
However, “Dynamite” believes that his compatriot will return in a similar mood as when he retired in April 2022, only to return seven months later.
If the “Gypsy King” ends his final retirement, Dubois insists the fight with Joshua must happen, which has opened the door for him to face the winner.
“I think he will definitely come back,” said the 27-year-old talkSPORT.
“He’s always done that throughout his career, mind games and all that.
“So I think he will come back. He plays various characters. He will definitely come back.
“Get them in the ring [Joshua and Fury].
“I want to see them fight now.
“I punched Joshua so he had to fight Fury.
“I want to see what’s left between these two.
“And then maybe I’ll fight the winner.”
The Londoner knocked out “AJ” five rounds in September at Wembley Stadium and on February 22 in Riyad, he will defend the IBF world heavyweight title against Joseph Parker.
Dubois stormed the ring after Usyk’s rematch victory over Fury, calling for a rematch from their August 2023 clash.
The Londoner’s argument for wanting a rematch is based on a controversial low blow in the fifth round of the fight against the Ukrainian, which he believed was a legal shot.
“Usyk, I want to take revenge,” he said.
“Good job tonight.
“I want revenge for the last robbery.
“Let’s sort this out. Let’s go.
Eddie Hearn believes Tyson Fury will retire after a legacy-defining clash with Anthony Joshua.
Fury stunned the boxing world on Monday when he announced his retirement from the sport, leaving behind a megafight with Joshua.
The “Gypsy King” announced his shocking decision less than a month after suffering, among other things, second defeat in a row against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyad, but Joshua’s promoter, Hearn, is convinced that the fighter from Morecambe will return to the ring to fight the long-awaited showdown with “AJ”, who is returning after a fifth-round defeat to Daniel Dubois.
“In my opinion, I think he will come back,” the 45-year-old said talkSPORT.
“But I don’t know him well enough to judge that.
“He’s coming back after two defeats, and these defeats hurt the boys.
“AJ was devastated by the defeat to Dubois and I’m sure Fury was too [with his defeats to Usyk]both are winners.
“I don’t know if Fury can leave one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport on the table.
“I know he’s a competitor. I know he will want to give the British fight fans what they want and I hope we see more of him.
“But if we don’t, God bless the speed and all the best.”
Fury hung up his gloves after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return eight months later for a third fight with Derek Chisora, whom he defeated comfortably at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn said Joshua will now look to secure a clash with the winner of the February 22 fight between his former rivals Dubois and Joseph Parker, who will fight in Riyad for the IBF heavyweight world title.
If Fury returns to fight AJ, the Matchroom boss insists the loser would have nowhere to go.
“They would both be devastated by defeat,” he added.
“It’s one thing to lose the world heavyweight title, but at the same time losing in a fight of this magnitude is the biggest bragging rights.
“At this stage of their career, the last word is goodbye.
“Whoever loses this fight is finished and whoever wins it moves on and that’s what you fight for.
“You’re not just fighting for a legacy, you’re fighting to save your career.
“It’s a huge fight, but it’s not on the table right now.”
The official fight of Adam Azim vs. Ohara Davies will take place on October 19
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