It’s a prospect-heavy card at the Sheffield Arena this Saturday evening, as Dalton Smith puts his British super lightweight title on the line against Commonwealth champion Sam Maxwell in the bill topper.
DAZN televise Smith vs Maxwell live worldwide, while Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing promote the show.
Smith (14-0, 10 KOs) has made serene progress as a professional, and his last three fights have seen him step up to championship level, beginning with a sixth round stoppage of Sam O’Maison in August last year that earned him the vacant British title.
He defended three months later with a tougher than expected, close points win against Kaisee Benjamin.
The 26-year-old home favourite was last seen in February, dropping Billy Allington on the way to a wide win on the cards.
’Thunder’ now faces experienced Liverpudlian Maxwell (17-1, 11 KOs), in what will be his biggest test by far.
The 34-year-old seemed to have opened doors after winning British and Commonwealth titles in August 2021 with a points win against Akeem Ennis-Brown, but he vacated the Lonsdale Belt to go after the IBO crown, and he was decked twice en route to a ninth round stoppage loss to Alejandro Meneses, who had five losses on his ledger.
Maxwell resurfaced in February, taking all six rounds against Shaun Cooper.
Prediction: This could be a very good piece of matchmaking for Smith, as Maxwell is susceptible to being hurt, and Smith can definitely exploit that. I fancy Smith to win inside schedule, possibly in the later rounds.
McCormack meets Dixon
2020 Olympic silver medalist, Pat McCormack (4-0, 3 KOs) aims for his first professional title on the bill, and the Sunderland native can take a stoppage win in his first scheduled ten rounder against tough Welshman Tony Dixon (14-4, 4 KOs), with the WBA Continental super welterweight title the prize on offer.
Price battles Beech Jr
The vacant WBA Continental title is also at stake at featherweight, where Hopey Price (10-0, 3 KOs) should win on the cards against Midlander, James Beech Jr (15-4, 2 KOs), who was stopped in seven by Nathaniel Collins in a British and Commonwealth title bid in his last contest.
𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐘
Jul 1 💪🏼 #matchroomboxing #dazn #PriceBeechjnr #SmithMaxwell pic.twitter.com/ibbjNS2PZq— Hopey price (@Hopeyprice1) May 25, 2023
Remaining Undercard
The vacant English lightweight title will be contested on the bill and Lewis Sylvester (11-0, 3 KOs) can come through on points against fellow unbeaten, Adam Cope (7-0, 1 KO).
Junaid Bostan (5-0, 5 KOs) is in a scheduled eight rounder for a second time, and the super welterweight may have to go the distance for the first time to see off Ryan Amos (10-0-1, 1 KO), who won the Midlands Area belt last time out in a rematch win against Kyle Haywood.
— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) June 26, 2023
The other eight round contest comes at super featherweight, where Brazil’s 2020 Olympic silver medalist, Beatriz Ferreira (2-0, 1 KO) should outpoint Karla Ramos Zamora (10-9-1, 3 KOs).
In six round action, Cory O’Regan (9-0, 1 KO) will likely need the cards to win against Jordan Ellison (14-48-3, 1 KO) at lightweight, and at super bantamweight, Nico Leivars (3-0-1) can do the same against Alberto Motos (4-0).
