'Big conversations' - Eddie Hearn reveals Sheffield Wednesday talks over Hillsborough fight for Dalton Smith
Eddie Hearn has made a claim regarding plans for Dalton Smith to fight at the home of Sheffield Wednesday
Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn has claimed talks over a dream Hillsborough fight for Dalton Smith are being held with Sheffield Wednesday.
29-year-old Smith is an avid Wednesday supporter and has made no secret of his desire to fight at their home throughout his rise through the boxing ranks.
When he scooped the WBC super-lightweight title in January, wrestling the crown from Subriel Matias in New York, talk of a headline bout at Hillsborough intensified.
He will defend his belt against Alberto Puello at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday (October 24), knowing a win could be a significant leap towards Hillsborough.
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Eddie Hearn reveals Hillsborough talks
Hearn told Matchroom’s YouTube channel: “[A fight at Hillsborough] is a real carrot. We are having big conversations with the club about a fight. We would love to bring over a big name for it in what would hopefully be a unification fight.
“If he can complete victories over Matias and Puello [back-to-back], then he deserves that kind of night.
“That’s his dream, and we’ve done extremely well in putting on big stadium events – we know that they work. A big Dalton Smith fight at Hillsborough would be sensational.”
Title defence first up
Hillsborough may well be on the brain but Smith’s first title defence is the immediate focus. Dominican southpaw Puello is a tricky customer, with a loss to Matias in July 2025 the only blemish on his professional record.
Hearn said: “This is a brilliant fight. It is one of the fights of the year on British soil. It is a very, very, very tough homecoming defence.
“We knew that when Dalton went into the Subriel Matias fight, this was part of that backlog, if you like, with the WBC.
“Many people thought that the victory for Matias over Puello was quite a controversial one. It was certainly a very close fight. The WBC decided that the winner of Matias against Dalton would have to fight Puello.
“What Dalton did back in January was quite incredible, and now we have what is a brilliant fight. It is one of the top fights in the division and a really tough homecoming defence.
“Historically, you would get an easier one after having to fight Matias in New York - but that just shows you the ability and skill of Dalton Smith. Back-to-back wins over Matias and Puello would be one hell of a statement in the 140lbs division.”