Dalton Smith attempts to continue his climb up the ranks this Saturday night, as he faces former world title challenger, Jose Zepeda, in a real step up in class at the Sheffield Arena.
The vacant WBC Silver super lightweight title is on offer to the winner here, and Smith vs Zepeda is broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
Smith (15-0, 11 KOs) has advanced at a healthy rate since turning professional, and after picking up fringe ranking-building belts, he won the vacant British title by stopping Sam O’Maison in six rounds in August 2022.
After defending on the cards against Kaisee Benjamin and Billy Allington, Smith then took on Commonwealth champion Sam Maxwell in his last fight, and he was dominant in a seventh round stoppage triumph.
It’s a big jump up to tackle Zepeda (37-4, 28 KOs), but the Californian seems a wise opposition choice at 34 and coming off a loss. Zepeda lost to Terry Flanagan in a bid for the WBO world lightweight title in 2015 due to a dislocated shoulder, and dropped a majority decision to Jose Ramirez for the WBC super lightweight crown in 2019.
Six straight wins saw him rise to world level once more, but Regis Prograis scored a penultimate round knockout win to deny him the WBC belt once more. Signs of a slide came in his most recent offering, as he lost all twelve rounds on two cards to Richardson Hitchins last September.
Prediction: This test looks to have come at the right time for Smith, but I think he may have to go the distance before prevailing in a wide win on the scorecards.
Ryan-Harper meet in world title clash
The undercard sees world title action, and it’s a really intriguing clash between WBO welterweight champion Sandy Ryan (6-1-1, 2 KOs), and two-weight world champion, Terri Harper (14-1-2, 6 KOs).
Ryan won the vacant belt last April, clearly outscoring Marie Pier Houle, and she was more than unlucky to not add the WBC, WBA and IBO crowns in her first defence, as she was held to a disputed draw against Jessica McCaskill five months later.
After losing her WBC and IBO super featherweight belts to Alycia Baumgardner in 2021, Harper moved up several weight classes to take WBA and IBO crowns from Hannah Rankin in September 2022 via decision. She made a defence of the WBA crown, but in her last contest, she was held to a draw by Ceceila Braekhus last October.
Last spar of camp ✅
Last few days and then Sheffield bound 🥊
Thank you to all of my sponsors for supporting me during this camp 👑👑👑@Everlast_ @SportsDirectUK @EcoPower68231 @SJTBuilding @EnigmaRooms1 @OCInsuranceUK @StefyBull pic.twitter.com/jDfEtl7B3U
— Terri “Belter” Harper (@TerriHarper96) March 16, 2024
Prediction: Ryan has a superb pedigree, and was unfortunate not to hold four belts going into this one. She will likely use that setback as fuel here, and although Harper has a great engine, I feel Ryan can retain her crown with a close points win.
Williamson battles Davis
There’s a British title eliminator on the menu, as Troy Williamson (20-2-1, 14 KOs) takes on the unbeaten Ishmael Davis (12-0, 6 KOs) over a scheduled twelve rounds at super welterweight.
Williamson has lost two of his last three contests, defeated widely on the cards against Josh Kelly in December 2022, and in his last out, he dropped a decision to Caoimhin Agyarko in Belfast in December.
Davis has yet to go past eight rounds, and he did that in his most recent win, an eighth round stoppage against Ewan McKenzie in November.
Prediction: I lean towards the more experienced Williamson to score a late stoppage here.
Hatton fights for first pro title
Campbell Hatton (14-0, 5 KOs) follows in his dad Ricky’s footsteps, and can take the same Midlands Area super lightweight title once held by ‘The Hitman’, with a points win over ten against James Flint (13-1-2, 3 KOs).
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Remaining Undercard
Nico Leivars (5-0-1) continues his education, and the super bantamweight prospect can go ten rounds for the first time in a clear points win over Piotr Mirga (7-2).
Super welterweight novice, Emmanuel Buttigieg (2-0, 1 KO) features in a scheduled six rounder for the first time, and he can stop Poland’s Bartlomiej Stryczek (2-2, 1 KO) inside the distance.
Liam Cameron (22-5, 9 KOs) also gets a run out, and he can stop Tanzania’s Hussein Itaba (16-8-3, 11 KOs), who has been halted six times as a pro, in their scheduled six rounder at light heavyweight.
Connan Murray (7-0, 1 KO) can bank a points win over Edgar Kemsky (3-6-1, 1 KO) in their six rounder at middleweight.
