Dalton Smith tells Alberto Puello 'you're scared' as both weigh 139lb 6oz in Sheffield

The unbeaten WBC super-lightweight champion makes his first defence against his mandatory challenger at the Utilita Arena on Saturday, live on DAZN.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Fri 23 Oct, 19:07 UK · Updated Fri 23 Oct, 19:12 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Typographic card reading You're in my house, WBC super-lightweight — Original graphic: Combat Sports UK

Dalton Smith told Alberto Puello he was scared during their final face-off at Friday's weigh-in in Sheffield, after both men came in at exactly 139lb 6oz for Saturday's WBC super-lightweight title fight.

Smith, unbeaten and fighting in his home city, defends the title for the first time against Puello, a two-time world champion and his mandatory challenger, over 12 rounds at the Utilita Arena.

Asked on stage after the weigh-in what he had said to Puello as they went head to head, Smith said: "Well, I just said you're scared. You know, again, you're in my house. You know, I've worked my whole life to become a world champion and tomorrow, I'm going to do the same."

The champion, who has been learning some Spanish before the fight, added: "I'm bigger, I'm faster, I'm stronger, I'm smarter. And tomorrow you'll see, you know, because that belt's staying in Sheffield."

Smith said he felt no pressure fighting at home. "All the years of hard work and sacrifice to have moments like this. You see the support I've got, the people what's turned out," he said. "I've dreamt of nights like this and tomorrow night, it's going to be special."

Puello had his own message for Smith's home city. Asked on stage by Darren Barker for his final prediction, the Dominican answered in Spanish, and his interpreter said: "I'm going to win that title. I'm taking that title home. I'm really sorry, people of Sheffield, but you won't have a champion tomorrow. I love you all."

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Dalton Smith Alberto Puello