WBC SPECIAL PREVIEW: Matias vs Smith 

WBC STATISTICS

WBC Super Lightweight World Championship

January 10, 2026 / Brooklyn, New York / Barclays Center

FRESH PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS:

SUBRIEL “Orgullo de Maternillo” MATIAS (Puerto Rico)

•     WBC Super Lightweight World champion

Age: 33 / Date of birth: March 31, 1992

Residence, birthplace: Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Record: 23-2, 22 KOs / Total rounds: 130 / World championship fights: 3-1, 2 KOs

Height: 5’9” – 175cm / Reach: 71” – 180cm / Stance: Right-handed

Manager: Juan Orengo / Trainer: Jay Nahar

DALTON “Thunder” SMITH (Great Britain)

•     Ranked WBC No. 1 at Super Lightweight
•     Former WBC Silver Super Lightweight Champion
•     Former WBC International Silver Super Lightweight Champion

Age: 28 / Date of birth: February 8, 1997

Residence, birthplace: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Record: 18-0, 13 KOs / Total rounds: 111

Height: 5’9.5” – 176cm / Stance: Right-handed

Trainer: Grant Smith

WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS

1. Roberto Cruz (Philippines) 1963
2. Eddie Perkins (USA) 1963 – 1965
3. Carlos Hernandez (Venezuela) 1965 – 1966
4. Sandro Lopopolo (Italy) 1966 – 1967
5. Paul Fuji (USA) 1967 – 1968
6. Pedro Adigue (Philippines) 1968 – 1970
7. Bruno Arcari (Italy) 1970 – 1974
8. Pedro Fernández (Spain) 1974 – 1975
9. Saensak Muangsurin (Thailand) 1975 – 1976
10. Miguel Velazquez (Spain) 1976
11. Saensak Muangsurin (Thailand) * 1976 – 1978
12. Sang-Hyun Kim (Korea) 1978 – 1980
13. Saoul Mamby (USA) 1980 – 1982
14. Leroy Haley (USA) 1982 – 1983
15. Bruce Curry (USA) 1983 – 1984
16. Bill Costello (USA) 1984 – 1985
17. Lonnie Smith (USA) 1985 – 1986
18. Rene Arredondo (Mexico) 1986
19. Tsuyoshi Hamada (Japan) 1986 – 1987
20. Rene Arredondo (México) * 1987
21. Roger Mayweather (USA) 1987 – 1989
22. Julio Cesar Chavez (México) 1989 – 1994
23. Frankie Randall (USA) 1994
24. Julio Cesar Chavez (México) * 1994 – 1996
25. Oscar de la Hoya (USA-México) 1996 – 1997
26. Konstantin Tszyu (Russia-Australia) 1998 – 2003
27. Arturo Gatti (Canada) 2004 – 2005
28. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (USA) 2005
29. Junior Witter (Great Britain) 2006 – 2008
30. Timothy Bradley Jr. (USA) 2008 – 2009
31. Devon Alexander (USA) 2009 – 2011
32. Timothy Bradley Jr. (USA) * 2011
33. Erik Morales (Mexico) 2011 – 2012
34. Lucas Matthysse (Argentina) Interim 2012 – 2013
35. Danny Garcia (USA) 2012 – 2015
36. Viktor Postol (Ukraine) 2015 – 2016
37. Terence Crawford (USA) 2016 – 2018
38. Regis Prograis (USA) Interim 2018
39. Jose Ramirez (USA) 2018 – 2021
40. Josh Taylor (Great Britain) 2021 – 2022
41. Regis Prograis (USA)* 2022 – 2023
42. Devin Haney (USA) 2019 – 2023
43. Alberto Puello (Dominican Republic) 2024 – 2025
44. Subriel Matias (Puerto Rico) 2025 –

* Regained

TOP 10

1. Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico)
2. Oscar de la Hoya (USA/ Mexico)
3. Kostya Tszyu (Russia/Australia)
4. Roger Mayweather (USA)
5. Timothy Bradley (USA)
6. Bruno Arcari (Italy)
7. Arturo Gatti (Canada)
8. Danny Garcia (USA)
9. Devon Alexander (USA)
10. Saensak Muangsurin (Thailand)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY

39 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, five of whom have regained the title: Saensak Muangsurin (Thailand), Rene Arredondo (Mexico), Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico), Timothy Bradley Jr. (USA), Regis Prograis (USA).

132 WBC super lightweight world title bouts have been held in WBC history.

MEMORABLE WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS:

July 12, 2025    Subriel Matias W12 Alberto Puello – Queens, New York

Mar. 1, 2025     Alberto Puello W12 Sandor Martin – Brooklyn, New York

Dec. 9, 2023    Devin Haney W12 Regis Prograis – San Francisco, California

June 17, 2023  Regis Prograis W12 Danielito Zorrilla – New Orleans, Louisiana

Nov. 26, 2022   Regis Prograis KO11 Jose Zepeda – Carson, California

Feb. 26, 2022   Josh Taylor W12 Jack Catterall – Glasgow, Scotland

May 22, 2021   Josh Taylor W12 Jose Ramirez – Las Vegas, Nevada

Aug. 29, 2020   Jose Ramirez W12 Viktor Postol – Las Vegas, Nevada

Sep. 14, 2018   Jose Ramirez W12 Antonio Orozco – Fresno, California

Mar. 7, 2018     Jose Ramirez W12 Amir Imam – New York, New York

Aug. 19, 2017   Terence Crawford KO3 Julius Indongo – Lincoln, Nebraska

July 23, 2016    Terence Crawford W12 Viktor Postol – Las Vegas, Nevada

Oct. 3, 2015     Viktor Postol KO10 Lucas Matthysse – Carson, California

July 14, 2012    Danny Garcia TKO4 Amir Khan – Las Vegas, Nevada

Jan. 29, 2011   Timothy Bradley Jr. TW10 Devon Alexander – Pontiac, Michigan

Mar. 6, 2010     Devon Alexander TKO8 Juan Urango – Uncasville, Connecticut

June 25, 2005  Floyd Mayweather Jr. TKO6 Arturo Gatti – Atlantic City, New Jersey

Jan. 29, 2005   Arturo Gatti KO5 James Leija – Atlantic City, New Jersey

Nov. 3, 2001    Konstantin Tszyu TKO2 Zab Judah – Las Vegas, Nevada

June 7, 1996    Oscar de la Hoya TKO4 Julio Cesar Chavez – Las Vegas, Nevada

Mar. 17, 1990   Julio Cesar Chavez TKO12 Meldrick Taylor – Las Vegas, Nevada

May 13, 1989   Julio Cesar Chavez TKO10 Roger Mayweather – Inglewood, California

Nov. 12, 1987   Roger Mayweather TKO6 Rene Arredondo – Los Angeles, California

Apr. 8, 1978     Saensak Muangsurin KO13 Francisco Moreno – Hat Yai, Thailand

Mar. 6, 1971     Bruno Arcari W15 Joao Henrique – Rome, Italy

July 22, 1987    Rene Arredondo TKO6 Tsuyoshi Hamada – Kokugican, Japan

June 15, 1963  Eddie Perkins W15 Roberto Cruz – Manila, Philippines

WBC Statistics by Luis Medina.

Subriel vs Dalton- Two types of TUF!

By James Blears

Puerto Rican Big puncher Subriel Matias defends his WBC super-lightweight title for the first time, against Dalton Smith the wiry, wily Steel City Warrior from Sheffield England, on January 10^th at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York.

The mandatory was hanging by a thread, keenly balanced on a knife-edge, after Subriel tested positive for Ostarine in a VADA test in November, which is part of the World Boxing Council`s Clean Boxing Protocol. The amount detected was very small and Subriel was found not guilty of intentional doping. So, he has been placed on twelve months- probation and this fight goes ahead.

In a statement, the WBC said: ‘’Trace elements were found in a contaminated supplement and consistent with accidental ingestion. The contamination was below the threshold for punishment used by Commissions in the jurisdictions of New York, Nevada and California.

‘’Subriel is on a one- year probation. He must undergo additional enhanced testing. Any future positive test during this period of time will result in indefinite suspension.’’

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman said: ‘’The WBC`s Clean Boxing Program needs updating and made stricter to address supplement contamination.’’

With this potential migraine diagnosed, if not dissolved, but resolved, both continued to diligently prepare for what`s going to be an exciting, nail-biting, tough as nails and memorable match up of big hitter against box-puncher.  Subriel`s 23-2, 22 KO`s tally, ominously and starkly speaks for itself. The only way in which he`s twice been defeated is via clever strategy and effective counter- punching. Rapier, astute boxing neutralizing his blunderbuss firepower.

Growing up in the poor seaside town of Fajardo, in 2012, three years prior to the start of his pro-career, Subriel who`d got mixed up with the wrong crowd, was shot twice in the thighs from a hail of forty bullets, was arrested some weeks later and served nineteen months in Puerto Rico`s Federal Prison for a variety of crimes. On his release, he made a life changing decision to move away from the precipice lifestyle, move on and develop, from his amateur boxing days, by turning pro, saying: ‘’God works in mysterious ways. You`re talking to a dead man that God has brought back to life.’’

Then another agonizing hard knock of fate. Subriel stopped Russian Maxim Dadashev in the eleventh round of an IBF Eliminator.  Buddy McGirt in Maxim`s corner threw the towel in during round eleven. Maxim collapsed, was rushed to hospital, placed in an induced coma, but died from severe brain trauma.  Grieving Subriel, poignantly said: ‘’No one is prepared to die, while looking for dreams and goals.’’

Downhearted, dejected and saddened, he lost his next fight, which was against Petros Ananyan, by UD being badly rocked in the seventh, driven into the ropes and Referee Roberto Byrd gave him a standing count. Two stoppage wins later, in a rematch, Subriel`s unremitting onslaught obliged Petros to stay on his stool, after nine torrid rounds.  Subriel won the vacant IBF title, after overwhelmed Jeremias Ponce called it a night following five rounds. But, in his second defence, Subriel lost his title to Liam Paro via UD.  He then fought Alberto Puello for the WBC, which he won with a gruelling MD.

Defending the title against Dalton won`t be a piece of cake, or blowing out the candles on the icing atop it.  Subriel says: ‘’I know Dalton is a tough opponent, but I was born for these kind of wars. On January 10<sup>th</sup>, I`ll defend my title, with the same strength and determination that brought me here. Dalton, you haven`t fought anyone like me before and I`ll prove it.’’

And… in a barbed verbose verbal warning, Subriel also suggested: ‘’I`m going to bring out the little girl he has inside of him. Remember, I`m the real Champ. This is for real and you`re going to see that on January 10<sup>th</sup>. Don`t run!’’

Undaunted, unflappable Dalton, who is undefeated with an 18-0, 13 KO`s isn`t running scared.  Clearly showing that this is going to be a hammering battle of two iron willpowers as well as colliding fists, he stressed: ‘’I have always said that if I could fight for one title it would be for Green and Gold. From the start of my career, I wanted to do it the traditional way. British, Commonwealth and European route. I`m confident in my abilities.

‘’Everyone says Subriel is this Bogeyman, but I`ve found weaknesses in his style. Of- course he can punch. He`s a big puncher, but it`s not one punch knockout. For him it`s an accumulation. People just stand in front of him and try to have a fight.  Obviously, we see weaknesses and that`s why we`ve done a ten week training camp, to make sure we get it right. We are well conditioned, but… we`ve got to execute it.

‘’This is the pinnacle of boxing and I will make my childhood dream come true on January 10^th. Subriel will bring out the Monster that lies within me!’’

Is he cruising for a bruising or will it be plain sailing albeit laterally? As actor James Dean once said: ‘’I can`t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.’’

Dalton`s amateur career has formed a bedrock foundation for what`s followed. He won Silver in the European Youth Championship, Bronze in the Commonwealth Games and was the 2018 ABA Champion.  As a pro he stopped Sam O`Maison in six to win the British Championship, KO`d Sam Maxwell in seven to win the Commonwealth title, vacated it and stopped Jose ‘’Chon’’ Zepeda via TKO in five for the vacant WBC Silver Belt.  He then KO`d Walid Ouizza in one round to retain his silverware plus win the vacant European title.  Prior to his world title challenge he defeated tough and resistant Mathieu German by UD.

This is going to be a war of attrition Vs a battle of wits.  The more experienced Subriel, who has built a 96.65 KO record and excels as a pressure fighter, is going to try to walk down Dalton, force him into the ropes, soften him up with hellacious body shots and take him down and out with left hooks to the head.  While Dalton must stave him off, stuttering his advance with stiff left jabs and long rights plus jarring counters, causing damage and going for a late stoppage. His KO ratio is a respectable 72.22 percent. Subriel is seasoned by one hundred and thirty pro rounds, Dalton has fought one hundred and eleven. Subriel is aged thirty- three, while Dalton is five years younger.

In a bull and matador type lateral encounter, power its foil of ingenuity, mindset willpower and stamina will be tested to their ultimate outer limits. Both are physically teak- tough, their mindsets are fully focused and their hearts are hardened. Each has denied themselves ample Christmas fare. Now in the New Year, all is fair in love and war?