Dalton Smith's New York moment was a seismic one, stopping Subriel Matias in five rounds to win the WBC junior welterweight world title.

Seven years and 19 fights into his professional career, the Sheffield puncher is now Britain's fifth current world champion.

Doing it on away territory, in the city Matias (23-3, 22 KOs) reclaimed championship gold just six months earlier, makes it even sweeter given the unsavoury build-up to their Saturday main event at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

Having floored the powerful Puerto Rican with an overhand right, referee Ricky Gonzalez waved off the contest and there could be no complaints. Both threw caution to the wind, unloading power punches at close quarters in a style suiting the champion. Until it didn't.

Before heading to the local hospital for treatment on a cut over his left eye, the 28-year-old celebrated with his team, topped by father and head coach Grant Smith.

Matias is historically a slow-starter but one whose volume grows with each passing minute, if you let him get into a rhythm.

"I remember a few people saying I wasn't tough, gave my dad a little heart attack, it wasn't the gameplan but I took all his best shots and thought 'you cannot hurt me,' felt him slowing down so thought persevere and I'll get to you," Smith told Matchroom.

"Plan B, C and at world-level, you need to be able to do it all. I don't think it [the sense of achievement] will sink in for quite a while, we always knew, everything was against us for this fight but I just thought this is my moment. You can throw everything at me, I've got the best manager, promoters, coach, strongest team and that [world title win] is for us all."

Former beltholder Alberto Puello (24-1, 10 KOs) is owed the next WBC title shot, though there are several more lucrative options to potentially unify.

Teofimo Lopez defends his Ring and WBO 140-pound belts against Shakur Stevenson atop The Ring 6 card on January 31, while IBF champion Richardson Hitchins is slated to face Oscar Duarte as part of the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia undercard come February 21.

Next month will also likely see WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell finally make his first title defence against mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka in their snake-bitten matchup.

When asked about what's next, Smith couldn't help but echo a loud shout from stablemate Mick Conlan in his dressing room as Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn later discussed taking him to his beloved Hillsborough for a voluntary title defence at some stage this year.

"Show me the money," he said. "Let me just enjoy, embrace that I'm a world champion and the future is bright."