Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello Preview October 24th, 2026
Unbeaten WBC Junior Welterweight Boss Dalton Smith of Sheffield, England defends his belt in his hometown this Saturday, October 24th when he takes on former WBC champion Alberto Puello of the Dominican Republic. Puello last fought in July when he stopped Miguel Angel Bolano in the fourth round. In his previous outing 12 months earlier, Puello dropped a majority decision to former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Subriel Matias to lose his title and suffer his lone pro defeat. Before losing the title to Matias, Puello edged Sandor Martin by a split decision in his first defence. He had also beaten Gary Antuanne Russell via split decision in June, 2024 for the interim belt and was then promoted to full champion. Smith last saw action in January when he halted Matias in the fifth round to take his WBC Belt. In his previous contest, Smith beat Mathieu Germain via a 12-round unanimous decision to defend his WBC Silver Title. This weekend’s 12-round battle can be seen live on DAZN in most nations.
Smith vs Puello Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Alberto Puello +160
- Dalton Smith -210
My Pick
Smith is 29 years old and makes the ring walk with a perfect mark of 19-0 with 14 Ko’s. He has boxed 116 rounds since making his pro debut in 2019. As an amateur, he won the 2018 ABA Championships as a junior welterweight, captured a silver medal at the 2014 European Youth Championships and a bronze at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games as a lightweight. He also fought at the 2013 World Junior Championships and reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Youth Championships. Smith also competed for the World Series of Boxing from 2016 to 2018 for the British Lionhearts.
As a pro, Smith won the vacant British Junior Welterweight Title in 2021 when he stopped Lee Appleyard in the sixth round. He added the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Junior Welterweight Belt the same year by beating Brian Pelaez by 10-round unanimous decision and took the vacant WBC International Silver Junior Welterweight Belt in 2022 when he stopped Ray Moylette in the 10th and final round. He won the vacant British Title again in 2022 by halting Sam O’Maison in the sixth round.
Smith measures just under 5-feet-10-inches tall with a reported reach of 69.5 inches. As far as power is concerned, he has plenty of it as 73.7 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage, but he has been forced to go the distance in three of his last seven fights. He’s a solid pro with good skills and power. Smith first took a big step up in class in 2024 when he stopped Jose Zepeda with a wicked body shot in the fifth round for the vacant WBC Silver Title. He added the vacant European Belt in his next outing when he stopped Walid Ouizza in the first round.
The 32-year-old Puello is a southpaw who fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He made his pro debut in 2015 following an amateur career which saw him fight at the 2014 PanAmerican Sports Festival. He’s boxed 192 rounds as a pro and climbs into the ring with a fine mark of 25-1 with 11 Ko’s. Puello is the same height as Smith at just under 5-feet-10-inches tall and his 71-inch reach gives him a 1.5-inch edge in that department. However he doesn’t match Smith when it comes to power as he’s a little below average as just 44 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. He halted his last opponent but went the distance in his previous seven fights.
Puello has won the vacant WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino Super Lightweight Titles as a pro as well as the WBA Interim Belt in 2019 when he beat Jonathan Alonso by unanimous decision. He defended the title against Cristian Coria and Jesus Antonio Rubio but was stripped of the belt when the WBA got rid of its interim titles. He then faced Batyr Akhmedov for the vacant WBA Super Lightweight Championship in August 20, 2022 and won by a split decision in a slugfest. Things turned sour shortly after that however when Puello tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance and was given a six-month suspension in June, 2023.
Prediction…
Smith surprised a lot of fans with his superb performance against Matias to win the title as he displayed excellent speed and power. Smith is also four years younger and fighting at home where the judging and refereeing often sides with British boxers. He also possesses a solid chin but Puello doesn’t possess much in the way of power. Puello will need to outbox Smith to win as it’s highly doubtful he’ll be able to stop him. Both boxers should have their moments here and while it’s true that Puello has the skills to take the title, he will need to dominate the fight to win on the scorecards and I don’t think that’s going to happen. I believe Smith holds onto the belt via a controversial decision in a close fight. This fight will also show us if Smith is a legitimate champion or he enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime night against Matias.
Smith is fighting at home and possesses greater power.
Play: Smith -210 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Alberto Puello betting • Dalton Smith betting