Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello

Sheffield's own world champion fights at home on Saturday 24 October 2026. Dalton Smith defends his WBC super lightweight title against Alberto Puello at Utilita Arena Sheffield, live on DAZN from 7pm, with the main event ring walks expected at around 10.15pm. Those are DAZN's times, and fight nights have a habit of running early or late depending on how the undercard goes.

Both men have been direct about what they expect. At the launch press conference in August, Puello said it would be “hugely satisfying to come here to his home and rip the belt away from him,” as The Ring reported on 20 August. Smith's reply, carried by British Boxing News on 19 October, started in Spanish and finished in English: “This is my house. You're in my house now, my friend.” Puello's line in the same report is just as clear: “It's coming with me now. It's coming home with me.”

This is a champion defending his belt in his own city against a former holder of the same title. If I were picking one British fight this autumn for a group who care about the boxing more than the occasion, this would be very near the top of my list.

Fight week in Sheffield: what happens, and when

Matchroom's fight-week schedule, as published by British Boxing News on 19 October, is short and busy:

• Thursday 22 October: the final press conference at Victoria Hall on Norfolk Street, from 2.30pm, followed by the face-offs.
• Friday 23 October: the weigh-in, also at Victoria Hall, with the fighters due on the scales at 6pm.
• Saturday 24 October: a Fight Day 5k at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park in the morning, then the fight itself at night.

Matchroom says all timings are subject to change. If your guests are in town on Friday, the weigh-in is the last look at the two of them nose to nose before the bell.

How Dalton Smith went from Sheffield prospect to world champion

Smith was born in Sheffield on 8 February 1997, and his career has been built in this building. He won the British title here in August 2022 by stopping Sam O'maison in six rounds. He took the Commonwealth belt from Sam Maxwell in the same arena in July 2023, then knocked out Jose Zepeda in five in March 2024 to win the WBC Silver title. A European title followed in January 2025, a first-round stoppage of Walid Ouizza.

Then came Brooklyn. On 10 January 2026, in his first fight in the United States, Smith stopped Subriel Matías inside five rounds at the Barclays Center to become WBC champion. DAZN called it a shock, and Puello told The Ring in August he was “very surprised”. It sent Smith home unbeaten at 19-0 with 14 stoppages, ranked number one at 140lb by The Ring.

The homecoming should have happened sooner. Smith and Puello were first booked for 6 June 2026 at this venue. Smith withdrew in late April with an elbow injury, the replacement main event fell apart when Galal Yafai was also injured, and the June card was cancelled. The fight was reset for 24 October. Same building, same belt.

Smith has been honest about what the defence asks of him. “It's hard to win a world title, but it's even harder to keep it,” he told The Ring this month, adding: “I need that fear factor.” In a second Ring interview in fight week he said: “For me, I'm just getting started now. There's a lot more I want to prove to the boxing world.” On the challenger, he added: “He could not do what I did to Matias.”

Who is Alberto Puello?

Puello is a serious challenger. He is from San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic and has been a world champion twice. He won the WBA title with a split decision over Batyr Akhmedov in August 2022. In June 2024 he beat Gary Antuanne Russell, again on a split decision, for the interim WBC title and was elevated to full champion days later. He defended it against Sandor Martín in March 2025. Split decision.

His only defeat came on 12 July 2025, a majority decision loss to Matías in New York that cost him the WBC belt. That gives the fight a clear link: the man Smith beat for the title is the man who took it from Puello. Puello returned on 18 July 2026 with a fourth-round stoppage of Miguel Angel Bolano in Santo Domingo, and The Ring has him at number three in the division going into Sheffield.

Styles matter here. Puello is a southpaw who likes to move, Smith fights orthodox, and DAZN lists both men at 5ft 9.5in with Puello's reach at 71 inches. Smith has 14 stoppages from 19 wins; Puello has 11 from 25. My read is that Smith's problem on Saturday is patience rather than power. Three of Puello's big title wins went to split decisions, which tells you he rarely gets blown out and rarely blows anyone away either. If Smith can close the distance, expect the arena to be loud. If Puello keeps it at range, it could go the full 12 and get tight.

The Smith vs Puello undercard

Matchroom's event listing shows seven bouts in support of the main event:

• Giorgio Visioli vs Maxi Hughes, for the WBC International Silver lightweight title.
• Shannon Ryan vs Emma Dolan, for the British, Commonwealth and IBF Intercontinental super flyweight titles.
• Leo Atang vs Jonathan Vergara, at heavyweight.
• Joe Hayden vs Will Harrison.
• Ed Hardy vs an opponent to be confirmed, at super featherweight.
• Divine Omojor vs Goran Kozul.
• Chris Mulunda vs Harley Collison.

Hughes against Visioli is the one I would make sure guests are seated for, because it is a proper test for the younger man. Ryan against Dolan puts three belts on the line in one fight, and if your group follows the women's game it is worth reading our round-up of UK women's boxing champions before the night.

Hospitality at Utilita Arena Sheffield

The arena runs its own hospitality. These are the products that suit a boxing night best:

• The Seven (Arena Club): early access, a private entrance, a premium host, a private bar, prime seat locations and a car park ticket.
• Club91: premium seat locations with a private entrance, a private bar and a drinks voucher.
• Hospitality Suites: private suites for 12 guests, with their own bar, a private host, en-suite toilets and designated parking.
• Mixer Suites: shared suites for up to 12 guests, with a host and bar, and food and drink included in some packages.
• The Sky's Edge: padded seats on the second tier with in-seat drinks service.

For a group of ten or twelve, a private Hospitality Suite is the natural fit. On an eight-fight card the gaps between bouts are long, and having your own room and bar means nobody misses the co-main waiting in a queue. For two or four guests, The Seven is the practical choice, mainly because the car park ticket makes arriving and leaving easier when a large crowd is heading to one building. Our Utilita Arena Sheffield venue guide covers the layout in more detail. If you would like help choosing, talk to our team.

Timings and planning the night

DAZN's coverage starts at 7pm, with Smith and Puello due to walk at about 10.15pm. No doors time had been published when this page was updated on 22 October 2026, so allow for doors opening well before the broadcast. My advice to anyone hosting: arrive early, eat early, and be seated before the last undercard fight. Stoppages bring ring walks forward, and Smith's fights do not always last long.

What could come next for Dalton Smith

Smith has talked about a stadium fight in Sheffield. He says he has Eddie's word (that's Eddie Hearn, his promoter) that Hillsborough will happen next summer if Sheffield turns out in force for this one in October, according to British Boxing News on 15 October. A world title fight at Sheffield Wednesday's ground would be a major event for the city. Matchroom's chief executive Frank Smith was more careful: “It's a proper fight and he's not looking beyond this.” With a former two-time world champion in the opposite corner, that is a fair view.

Sheffield on 24 October is the first of several big British fight nights before the end of the year. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua takes place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday 11 December 2026, and our UK boxing fixtures and fight nights guide tracks the rest of the domestic schedule. For the wider picture, see our major boxing fights hub and the main boxing section.

Photo credits: Arena interior in 2022 by Stuartjackson9, CC BY-SA 4.0. Arena interior in 2008 by Chris, CC BY-SA 2.0.