British boxer Dalton Smith has said he hopes to defend his WBC light-welterweight title at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium in 2027, but must first come through a mandatory defence against former two-weight world champion Alberto Puello. Smith won the title in January by stopping Subriel Matias in New York and will make his first defence in front of a home crowd in Sheffield, adding significance to the bout after it was postponed from June due to a training injury. Matchroom chief executive Frank Smith said a Hillsborough night could follow, though the boxer insisted he is focused solely on the Puello fight for now.

The unbeaten 29-year-old, who has won all 19 of his professional fights, faces Puello, 32, at Sheffield's Utilita Arena on 24 October. The Dominican held the WBA title from 2022-23 and the WBC title from 2024 before losing it to Matias in July 2025, the only defeat in his 26-fight career, and has vowed to "humiliate" Smith by taking his belt in his home city. Both fighters exchanged confident words at a media event before shaking hands.