NEW YORK - Dalton Smith talks like a man who’s confident in himself.

Subriel Matias, who he challenges on January 10 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, is one of the hardest-hitting fighters in the sport. Smith (18-0, 13 KOs) has watched the WBC 140-pound champ violently take his opponents out, but come fight night, he doesn’t believe he will suffer the same fate.

Matias (23-2, 22 KOs) respects Smith’s bravado and self-belief. However, he has a feeling that deep down inside, when the going gets tough, Smith will wilt under the pressure.

“I’m gonna bring out the little girl he has inside him,” Matias said at their announcement press conference on Monday. “Remember, I’m a real champion.”

Getting his opponents to fold is Matias’ specialty. On 22 occasions, the 33-year-old champion has stopped his foes dead in their tracks. Nevertheless, Alberto Puello forced him to do more. Even though Puello made it to the final bell on July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, Matias emerged with a close, contentious victory.

Smith, 28, has beat everyone who has been put in front of him. Thanks to his undefeated run and back-to-back wins over Walid Ouizza and Mathieu Germain, he secured himself the WBC’s No. 1 position.

As Smith continued to talk a big game during his face-to-face with Matias, all the Puerto Rican could do was smile. All he hopes is that Smith stands in the middle of the ring and bangs it out with him.

“This is real and you’re gonna see that on January 10th,” Matias continued. “Don’t run.”