However, this time he himself jumped on his own chips.
Matias was almost caught in doping. However, it did not help him to win The fight between Subriel Mathias and Dalton Smith did not become something that breaks the informational order. A good matchup of a classy, confident champion against a solid contender. However, later it was the champion who got into a situation that attracted attention.
Matias caught doping. During the inspection, prohibited substances were found in his body. It was about a month before the confrontation, so the possibility of canceling it was discussed.
It was not necessary to do this. It turned out that there are not many substances in Subriel’s body. Conditional “acceptable rate” for the state commission. It sounds strange, but that’s how it is: there is an acceptable rate of doping. Smith’s team agreed to fight, given these circumstances and the fact that the camp was almost over.
Although Eddie Hearn, Dalton’s promoter, was surprised. I asked that if doping is in the body, why is the boxer not disqualified?
This topic has become too sensitive, considering the person of Mathias. It was in a match against him that the Russian Maksym Dadashev suffered injuries that led to his death. Subriel’s career itself suggests that he dominates due to strength – only one opponent of the defeated lasted with him all the rounds. Matias is not a hard knockout, but the pace and number of blows simply destroys opponents. Fans logically asked if this was a coincidence or just the first time a Puerto Rican was caught doping?
In the ring, this was traditionally expected from the champion: pressing, a large number of blows and attempts to score the opponent. From the first seconds, he became exactly that.
Matias spent the first 3 minutes in the traditional pursuit mode. He often does this when he presses the opponent almost without punches, trying to find his distance. For Subriel, it is important not only to get to a comfortable distance for a shot, but also to stay there long enough to hit a combination.
Smith hasn’t looked great all this time. He was moving, trying to box against such an opponent. However, somehow everything did not stick very well. The boxer from Great Britain could not feel his balance and adapt to the opponent.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine At one point, it seemed that the champion was taking his own. He was not impressed by the opponent’s blows, and the pressing only increased. Fortunately, Dalton Smith didn’t do what Damian Knyba did against Agit Kabayel: he didn’t stop attacking.
Even on the contrary. The Briton regrouped and tried to press the champion. Put him in a different position and it worked. Mathias is not working well from the opponent, and here he had to retreat. The Briton’s blows visually began to have a greater effect. Smith wasn’t afraid to get into exchanges and hit back hard.
It gave results almost immediately. Already in the 5th round, Dalton hit his opponent. The Puerto Rican champion got carried away, and the Briton did not delay in finishing.
Mathias got up. However, the referee, looking at his condition, decided to end the match immediately.
What now? For Matias, this is already the third defeat in the pro. However, the first is premature. On the one hand, his style should lead to this at some point. Soubriel misses a lot, and the head should fail. On the other hand, it happened right after the Puerto Rican got involved with doping. Accordingly, he paid more attention to this question of his. Is it possible that this also affected the result? After all, it was rare to see Mathias physically slumping and retreating.
For Dalton Smith, this is a breakthrough. He deserved such a result a long time ago, he just confirmed everything this time.
Now the first welterweight is in an interesting situation. On January 31, Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson will meet in a fight for the WBO belt. In addition, Keyshawn Davis will debut in the division. Maybe he will go further, and maybe not – it should be watched.
Gary Antoine Russell also holds the WBA belt, and Alberto Puelho holds the WBC belt. It is precisely the meeting with the second that fans prefer to see, judging by the reaction on social networks.
Matias fought Puelo in 2025 – won by majority decision. So this meeting looks logical and because of that. And because of the style of boxers. And because of the logic of combining belts. And Alberto will easily fly to Great Britain to make good money on the show.
By that time, the winner of the Stevenson-Lopez pair will be clear. As well as whether Shakur would remain in the division as he considered a return to lightweight. And even louder associations are not far from there.
With this victory, Dalton Smith opened the way to great fights and great fees. And interestingly, in most confrontations in this division, he will definitely not be a big outsider.
Source: sport.ua