WBC rules Dalton Smith must face Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz after a voluntary defence

The Sheffield champion has cleared his mandatory by beating Alberto Puello, and the WBC has set Puello to face Souleymane Cissokho for its interim welterweight title.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Fri 13 Nov, 03:16 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Dalton Smith during his WBC super-lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello in Sheffield — Photo: Sky Sports

Dalton Smith can make a voluntary defence of his WBC super-lightweight title, but must then face interim champion Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz, the WBC has ruled.

The ruling came out of the mandatories session at the 64th annual WBC Convention in Acapulco, Mexico, on Wednesday, where WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán and the board of governors heard requests from promoters, fighters and their representatives. The WBC said Smith "fulfilled his mandatory obligation by defeating former champion Alberto Puello" and may make a voluntary defence before he is required to face Cruz.

Smith kept the belt with a split decision over Puello at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield last month. It was his first defence since he stopped Subriel Matias in January to win the title.

The WBC gave no date or venue for the voluntary defence or the Cruz fight. Cruz, from Mexico, holds the WBC interim title at super-lightweight.

After the Puello win, Smith told the crowd he wanted a stadium fight at Hillsborough, the home of Sheffield Wednesday, and he named WBO champion Shakur Stevenson as the fight he wants.

The same session set Puello, the former champion, to face top-ranked Souleymane Cissokho for the WBC interim welterweight title.

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Dalton Smith Alberto Puello