Dalton Smith aims to show Subriel Matias he has fight-ending power too
Jan 9, 2026
1 min read
We don’t want to say that Subriel Matias is one-dimensional, but he is known for one thing: pressure. The Puerto Rican native doesn’t bring anything tricky or out of the ordinary to the table, but no matter who’s in front of him, Matias moves forward p...
We don’t want to say that Subriel Matias is one-dimensional, but he is known for one thing.
Pressure.
The Puerto Rican native doesn’t bring anything tricky or out of the ordinary to the table, but no matter who’s in front of him, Matias moves forward poise and purpose, and he doesn’t stop throwing punches, usually until his opponent is unable to continue.
Dalton Smith (18-0, 13 KOs) will find out exactly how hard Matias (23-2, 22 KOs) hits this weekend when they square off for the latter's WBC junior welterweight title at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
Boxing and moving seems like the obvious game plan. It’s what Liam Paro used to beat Matias for his IBF 140-pound strap in 2024. It’s also what Alberto Puello attempted to do on 'Ring III', at New York City's Louis Armstrong Stadium last summer. Puello, however, lose that fight, and his title, by contentious decision.
Smith could attempt to do the same. But more than anything, he plans on letting Matias know that he isn’t the only big puncher in the ring on Saturday night.
“I punch hard,” Smith said to several reporters. “I think in any fight you’ve got to get the opponent's respect, whether amateur or professional.”
To a certain extent, Smith is right. The Ring’s No. 7 ranked contender has stopped 13 of his 18 opponents.
Still, even with the run he’s on, Smith knows good and well how dangerous Matias is. Nevertheless, he believes his level will rise now that the stakes are incredibly high.
“Subriel will bring the best out of me,” Smith continued. “The bigger the danger in front of me is when I perform.”
Analysis
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