- Published
Dalton Smith will make the first defence of his WBC light-welterweight title on home soil when he faces former champion Alberto Puello in Sheffield on Saturday.
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he → publish → Saturday
Unbeaten Smith, 29, returns to the ring for the first time since becoming world champion with a stunning knockout of Subriel Matias in New York in January.
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Smith → return → January
Dominican Republic fighter Puello, 32, is aiming to become a three-time world champion, having lost his WBC belt to Matias on points last year.
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Puello → aim → points
Smith will have the backing of his home crowd at the Utilita Arena.
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Smith → have → Arena
Can he keep his dream of fighting at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium alive with another win?
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he → keep → win
Or will the tricky and experienced southpaw Puello, who has lost just once in 26 professional fights, ruin the homecoming?
BBC Sport spoke to figures from across the boxing world to get their predictions on who will come out on top.
Chantelle Cameron - two-weight world champion
"I think it's going to be a great fight, I think there will be a lot of close rounds, but I'm going for a majority decision win for Smith in a really tough fight."
Prediction - Smith
Darren Barker - former middleweight world champion
"What a brilliant fight this is.
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this → lose → Barker
It's such a terrific match-up with contrasting styles.
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It → contrast → styles
You have a slick southpaw in Puello and the tough, rugged, well-schooled Smith.
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You → have → Puello
Puello being a southpaw will suit Dalton who throws a fantastic right hand.
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who → suit → hand
I think Dalton will come through via decision, or perhaps a late stoppage, and he will have produced two back-to-back victories to cement his place in the top 15 pound-for-pound rankings.
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he → think → rankings
I think this will be an interesting fight.
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this → think → ?
Both guys have a similar sort of style.
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guys → have → style
Puello is a boxer-puncher who goes really well to the body.
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who → go → body
He throws that loopy left hand shot quite well that Dalton will have to be quite careful of.
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Dalton → throw → that
"It will be cagey at the start and I think Puello will fall behind a little bit.
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Puello → think → start
Puello will then have to come forward and I think that will suit Dalton.
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that → have → Dalton
So I see Dalton winning quite a wide points decision."
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Dalton → see → decision
It's a good fight and I think Puello is a good fighter but I'm Team Smith.
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I → think → ?
He boxes well and his style has matured.
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style → box → ?
Puello has fast hands and is good in close but Smith can find a way to beat him.
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Smith → have → him
If he knocks him out then it's a big statement, but I'll go for a Smith win on points."
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I → knock → points
Matias was a monster, while Puello is a clever boxer who sits on the back foot and punches nice and long.
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who → sit → foot
He's southpaw which makes it awkward to adjust your feet and stance.
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it → make → feet
"Ultimately, I think the angles of attack will be the difference for Smith.
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angles → think → Smith
I think it might be a bit of a frustrating night for him but I think he comes out on top on points.
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he → think → points
I'm backing Dalton, he's been my guy since we were 12 years old.
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we → back → Dalton
I'm backing Dalton Smith to beat Alberto Puello and retain his world title.
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I → back → title
Smith's power, accuracy and impressive stoppage win over Subriel Matias make him a dangerous opponent.
"
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him → make → Matias
Although Puello's experience and awkward southpaw style could make it a tough fight, I think Smith's power and work-rate will prove too much.
uncertain
power → make → much
Smith to win by unanimous decision."
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Smith → win → decision
Puello can be awkward and disrupt rhythm as he did in wins over guys like now WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell, but Dalton's a big light-welterweight and his boxing is on point as well as intelligent decision-making.
"
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boxing → disrupt → point
His stoppage win over Subriel Matias was impressive but I see Dalton winning this one on points.
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Dalton → see → points
Puello will complicate things in some moments, but Smith wins a comfortable decision."
Prediction - Smith
Ade Oladipo - DAZN presenter
"It's a big fight.
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It → complicate → Prediction
I think the Utilita Arena - pound-for-pound - is the noisiest venue in the country.
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Arena → think → country
To use a football analogy, I think it will have to be a 12th man for Dalton.
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it → use → Dalton
I think he's up against it.
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he → think → it
Puello is a very special talent, as is Dalton who put on a performance of a lifetime in January.
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who → put → January
"Dalton has a lot of the advantages but Puello comes here with experience at the highest level at this division.
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Puello → have → division
He wants the belt back, which he thinks was robbed from him in his loss to Matias.
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he → want → Matias
"I do edge towards the current champion because of home advantage, but I wouldn't be shocked if Puello walks away with the belt.
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Puello → edge → belt
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
