Tony Bellew: Dalton Smith Has All Ingredients for Boxing Stardom

Dalton Smith possesses the talent and potential to become British boxing's next major star, according to former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew. Bellew, writing for BBC Sport, suggests that Smith, who recently won the WBC light-welterweight title, needs a high-profile rival to transition from a known fighter among boxing enthusiasts to a household name.

Smith is set to defend his title against Alberto Puello on Saturday. Bellew highlighted Smith's victory over Subriel Matias in January as a testament to his skill, describing it as a phenomenal performance. He noted Smith's technical proficiency and ability to land punches with perfect timing, drawing parallels to another Sheffield fighter, Kell Brook. Bellew also praised Smith's relationship with his father and trainer, Grant, for their willingness to seek external coaching expertise.

Bellew emphasized that while Smith is a technically gifted boxer, achieving widespread recognition requires a significant opponent, much like David Haye was for his own career. He proposed Adam Azim as the ideal contender to propel Smith into the mainstream spotlight. A potential bout between Smith and Azim, held at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium, is envisioned by Bellew as a "monster fight."

However, Bellew cautioned against overlooking Puello, describing the Dominican fighter as Smith's toughest opponent to date. He noted Puello's southpaw stance, work rate, and resilience, while also pointing out that Puello's stance might make him easier to hit. Bellew advised Smith to focus on winning rounds rather than solely seeking a knockout against Puello.

Looking beyond the Puello fight, Bellew suggested Smith should aim to unify the light-welterweight division rather than chasing opponents across different weight classes. He invoked the example of Marvin Hagler, who became a legend by dominating a single division.

The potential matchup with Azim is described as "electric," pitting two top British talents against each other in a rivalry that could capture the nation's attention. Bellew suggested that Azim winning a world title first would set the stage for a significant unification bout, potentially leading to a trilogy of fights. He concluded by reiterating that Smith must first overcome the challenge posed by Puello before these larger ambitions can be realized.