Fight Results: Dalton Smith Drills Jose Zepeda for KO5 Win

Dalton “Thunder” Smith of Sheffield (16-0, 12 KOs) took his first big step up, taking on Jose “Chon” Zepeda of La Puente, California (37-5, 28 KOs) with the WBC Silver Super Lightweight belt at stake.

Smith said some naysayers thought it was “too soon for me.” But he proved them wrong, doing what opponents, including Jose Ramirez, Regis Prograis, and, more recently, Richardson Hitchins, couldn’t.

Jose Zepeda took a knee and could not beat referee Victor Loughlin's count. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Smith drilled Zepeda with a straight shot to the breadbasket in the fifth round. Zepeda took a knee and couldn’t recover in time to beat referee Victor Loughlin’s count. Smith wins by knockout at 1:25 of round five, giving him the win and the WBC minor title.

“The reaction’s going to say it… I don’t speak much crap, I do my talking in the ring, and I’ve done exactly that tonight,” said Smith.

Will Jose Zepeda Retire?

Jose Zepeda got off to a good start, but Dalton Smith quickly disarmed Zepeda. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

It was Zepeda’s second knockout loss and, by far, the earliest. It took Prograis 11 rounds. His only other stoppage loss was after an injury against Terry Flanagan. Before Zepeda’s fifth title fight, he said at age 34, he’d consider retiring with a loss.

Smith said it was the first time in his career he had dreamed about the fight and had seen himself knock out Zepeda. “I had a couple of dreams of him getting knocked out tonight. That’s what made me train harder. I showed where I belonged tonight,” said Smith.

Zepeda started strong, winning the first two rounds, similar to his fight against Hitchins. He controlled the ring real estate from his southpaw stance against Smith, successfully landing hard left hooks early on Smith.

Once Dalton Smith made the adjustments, he took over. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Smith adjusted to the offense and forced Zepeda to follow him around the ring. This put him in a better position to start delivering his own power punches, and he steadily gained control of the contest. The accumulation of punches set up the final body shot to give Smith the victory.

Dalton Smith Rises in Division Rankings

After their bout, Dalton Smith thanked Jose Zepeda, calling him a true champion.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

“To be honest, I was hitting him with some clean shots. I was thinking, man, he’s not budging here,” recalled Smith after the win.

“I walked him onto an uppercut. I thought, all right now I know I can hurt you now. I had to be on my game. If I switched off for one second, you see what Jose does, he puts people to sleep.”

Smith announced his arrival in the competitive super lightweight division, loaded with American and British talent. Many of those fighters are signed with Matchroom Boxing. Promoter Eddie Hearn quickly pointed out that his short-term contract working with Smith had been extended.

Who's Next in Dalton Smith's Way?

Dalton Smith wants to take on Adam Azim for the European title next.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Who’s next?  Smith had someone in mind. “I don’t call many names out. But I’ve got one. Adam Azim, where you at?” Azim holds the European super lightweight title, and that’s the one Smith wants next.

“There’s one reason Adam didn’t vacate that title. He thought I was going to lose tonight. Now I bet he vacates that title,” said Smith. “It takes to tango, I’m here to fight. If he doesn’t want that fight – I have respect for Adam, he is a lovely kid. If you want to wait a few years to develop, don’t hold onto the belt, vacate.”

“That was a world-class performance. I was nervous tonight. That guy is a hell of a fighter,” said Hearn. “Look at the 140-pounders we work with—the list is endless.”

Matchroom Boxing represents Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall, who fight in May, and work with Devin Haney, Subriel Matias, and Ohara Davies. Teofimo Lopez Jr. is under the Top Rank Banner, but Jose Ramirez is currently signed with Golden Boy Promotions, which is an easy fight to make and provides a point of comparison against Zepeda.

Hearn went on to dare Azim to fight Smith. “Right now, he couldn’t lace this man’s boots.”

Sandy Ryan Runs Through Terri Harper in Three Rounds

Sandy Ryan overpowered Terri Harper from the opening bell in their WBO Welterweight Title fight. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

The matchup between WBO World Welterweight champion Sandy Ryan of Derby (7-1, 3 KOs) and Terri Harper of Doncaster (14-2-2, 6 KOs) was highly anticipated and expected to be a competitive fight between the current champion Ryan and former two-division champion Harper, moving down a division to take on Ryan.

But Ryan was the bigger, stronger, and more aggressive athlete in the ring. She blew through an overwhelmed Harper, drilling her with power punches. After three rounds, Ryan’s corner threw in the towel, giving her an R3 TKO victory.

Sandy Ryan was the bigger, stronger fighter, despite Terri Harper having dropped a weight class to face her.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

The difference? “I just believe in myself. I’ve done it all my life,” said Ryan. “It’s time for me to be getting my rewards.” Ryan credited her new U.S. team and her relocation to Las Vegas to work with Kay Koroma. She thanked former sparring partner Harper for the match.  “I knew deep down she knew we had hard spars. I respect her massively, and she knows that.”

Ryan had hoped to get the stoppage in the ring but was satisfied with the outcome. “I started to put the pressure on her. When I could see her fading, I thought there’s no way I’m taking a back foot here. My coaches were like, be smart with it. I can be reckless. We’re going to go back in the gym and work on this.”

Sandy Ryan thanked her former sparring partner, Terri Harper, for being willing to face her on Saturday.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing
Terri Harper loses

Following her disputed draw against Jessica McCaskill, Ryan had something more to prove than simply defending her title. Promoter Eddie Hearn called it a special performance and agreed she should have won.

“It was all the product of her hard work in the performance tonight. It was a dominant performance, a spiteful performance. Now we need to collect the other belts,” said Hearn. Ryan said she’d take “any big fight, Eddie knows me by now … We can make big fights in the female division.”

Ishmael Davies Defeats Troy Williamson

Ishmael Davis took care of his business against Troy Williamson. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Super lightweight Troy Williamson of Durham (20-3-1, 14 KOs) wasn't so light. At Friday's weigh-in, he was four pounds over the limit. Ishmael “The Black Panther” Davies of Leeds (13-0, 6 KOs) held out for some accommodations (a bit of pocket money) and proceeded with the bout. He ground out a decision by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 twice.

Davies was in control throughout the fight but never seemed to step on the gas. Perhaps he decided to roll to a win with Williamson coming in so heavy.

James Flint Denies Campbell Hatton in Decision

James Flint handed Campbell Hatton his first loss, defending his Central Area Super-Lightweight title. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

James Flint of Doncaster (14-1-2, 3 KOs) proved a tough test for prospect Campbell Hatton of Lancashire (14-1, 5 KOs), retaining his British Central Area Super Lightweight title after a cracking good bout. Scores were 98-92, 97-95 and 97-94.

Despite the loss, Hatton acquitted himself well against Flint in his first ten-round bout. Hatton started strong, landing good body shots and uppercuts when he could move in against Flint. As Flint picked up Hatton’s game plan, he landed the harder, heavier shots as Hatton left himself open too often.

Hatton showed a good chin, and both men had the stamina to make it an all-action, fan-pleasing fight. After trash talk all week, Flint complimented Hatton’s effort: “Listen, well done to Campbell. No doubt he’ll come back again.”

Campbell Hatton has been learning on the job and will gain from the experience against James Flint.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Promoter Eddie Hearn agreed, noting Hatton would learn much from the experience. “It doesn’t matter who your dad is. If you’ve got nights like that, you give the public a fight like that, he’ll be back. He has tremendous heart, he couldn’t have done any more. He will improve from that.”

Hatton was attempting to win a regional title once held by his father, Ricky, with uncle Matthew in his corner. He did not argue with the results. “I think I’ve shown a lot of people I’m not just this silver spoon. I can dig in,” said Hatton. He has little amateur experience but is showing significant improvement from his early appearances.