It was announced Monday that WBC 140 lb. champ Dalton Smith is injured and cannot defend against Albert Puello on June 6th in Sheffield, England. So, the co-feature bout between unified flyweight champ Ricardo Sandoval and Gal Yafai is elevated.
WBC junior welterweight titleholder Dalton Smith suffered a recent injury in training injury and his first defense in his hometown is now off. However, the card will go one with a unified flyweight title fight being elevated to the main event.
Matchroom Boxing made the announcement on Monday on Smth's undisclosed injury that is serious enough to cancel the fight with Albert Puello more than a month out,
The 29 year old Smith, 19-0, 14 KOs was due to make a mandatory defense against the former WBC titlist Puello, 24-1, 10 KOs, the 31 year old southpaw from the Dominican Republic headlining the DAZN show from the Utilita Arena in Smith’s home of Sheffield, England.
Insider Dan Rafael reported on his Substack that whatever the injury is, Smith is expected be out until about October.
So, as the social post above announced, the show will go on with the original co-feature moving up to the top of the bill. It's a mandatory bout between WBC/WBA unified flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval and the now, WBC interim titlist, Galal Yafai.
The 27 year old Californian Sandoval, 27-2, 18 KOs, scored a major upset in his last fight, winning a split decision over Kenshiro Teraji in Yokohama, Japan, last July 30 to win the two 112 lb. world titles.
The 33 year old Yafai, 9-0, 7 KOs, is a 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist from England, but is coming off a brutal beating and lopsided decision loss to Francisco Rodriguez last June. However, post-fight, Rodriguez tested positive for a banned substance and the WBC stripped him of the interim title and returned it to Yafai, This, as despite the beating Yafai took, the result was changed to a "no contest."
Smith signed a long-term contract extension with Matchroom Boxing that was just announced last week. He won the WBC title by stirring upset fifth-round KO of Subriel Matias on January 1st in Brooklyn, New York.
Remaining bouts on the June 6th card will feature England’s Josh Padley, 18-1, 6 KOs, who will make his first defense of the European junior lightweight title against countryman Aqib Fiaz, 14-1, 2 KOs. Plus, big-time heavyweight prospect Leo Atang, 6-0, 5 KOs, a 19 year old Englishman, will battle an opponent to be named in a six-rounder. Atang was pushed the distance for the first time his last time out on April 18th but won in a shut out against Viktar Chvarkou over the six rounds.