The bout had originally been scheduled for June 6 but was postponed after Smith suffered an elbow injury during training. The delay pushed back the unbeaten champion\u2019s first defense of the title he captured earlier this yr.<\/p>\n Smith (19-0, 14 KOs) won the vacant WBC 140-pound belt in January 2026 and can now make his first appearance as champion in front of his hometown fans. The 29-year-old has steadily climbed the rankings over the past several years and enters the fight seeking to strengthen his position as one among the division\u2019s leading names.<\/p>\n Puello (24-1) earned the mandatory challenger position and can travel to England for his first opportunity to assert the WBC title. The Dominican southpaw is a former world champion who has remained near the highest of the rankings despite suffering the lone defeat of his skilled profession.<\/p>\n The postponement gave Smith additional time to get better from the elbow injury without forcing the WBC to strip him of the title. With a brand new date now in place, each fighters can resume preparations for one among the division\u2019s more significant title fights this fall.<\/p>\n The winner could possibly be in line for greater opportunities in a crowded junior welterweight division that features several world champions and contenders pursuing unification bouts. For Smith, a successful first title defense would further establish him as a key player at 140 kilos, while Puello will try to spoil the homecoming and regain a world championship.<\/p>\n The Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello WBC junior welterweight title fight is being rescheduled for Oct 24 in Sheffield, England, sources tell @ringmagazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n The fight was postponed from its June date after Smith injured his elbow. pic.twitter.com\/w1cJzSw6BP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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