Smith Edges Puello on a Split Decision in Sheffield

Dalton Smith kept his WBC super lightweight title on Saturday with a split-decision win over Alberto Puello at Utilita Arena Sheffield. The judges scored it 115-113 and 115-113 for Smith, and 116-112 for Puello.

Smith came in as the unbeaten British champion. The result takes Smith to 20-0 with 14 knockouts. Puello, a two-time world champion from the Dominican Republic who is based in Las Vegas, falls to 24-2. It was the first defense of the belt Smith won against Subriel Matias in January. Smith is 29 and from Sheffield; Puello, 32, had previously held the WBA and WBC titles at 140 pounds. Both men weighed 139.6 pounds the day before the fight.

The undercard

Giorgio Visioli, from Guildford, beat Maxi Hughes of Rossington by majority decision for the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title. Two judges had it 96-94 for Visioli and one had it 95-95. Visioli is now 12-0, while Hughes is 29-10-2.

Leo Atang, a British heavyweight, finished Argentina's Jonathan Exequiel Vergara at the end of round one. He dropped Vergara three times, and the referee waved the fight off at 3:00. Atang moves to 9-0 with eight knockouts, while Vergara is 9-5.

Shannon Ryan stopped Emma Dolan at 0:46 of the first round after sending her to the canvas twice. Ryan retained her Commonwealth and IBF Intercontinental super flyweight titles and also took the British title. She is 12-1 with three knockouts. Dolan, who held the British title, is 9-2.

Four prelim bouts were also held. Edward Hardy beat Diego Alberto Ruiz 79-73, Divine Omojor stopped Goran Kozul in the second round, Chris Mulunda beat Harley Collison 60-54, and Joe Hayden beat Will Harrison 79-72.

Source: FIGHTMAG