SHEFFIELD — Dalton Smith and Alberto Puello both made weight comfortably inside the 140lbs limit ahead of their WBC junior welterweight title fight at Sheffield's Utilita Arena, with each man hitting 139.6lbs for Saturday's 12x3 championship clash.
Puello, the former WBC super-lightweight champion, was first to the scales and weighed 139.6lbs before home favourite Smith followed and matched him at exactly 139.6lbs. Smith will make the first defence of the title he won back in January with a fifth-round finish against Subriel Matias.
"There is no pressure for me. All the years of hard work and sacrifice, I am made for moments like this," Smith said after making the 140lbs limit. "You can see all the people who have turned out and the support I have. I've dreamt of nights like this and tomorrow night, it is going to be special. I just told [Puello] that he's scared and that this is my house. I have worked my whole life to become a world champion and tomorrow I am going to do the same. And still."
The pair faced off on stage after weighing in, with Smith carrying the WBC belt over his shoulder for the first defence on home soil. The bout headlines tomorrow at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, where Smith will look to retain his crown against the travelling challenger.