Dalton Smith Vs Jose Zepeda

Super lightweights Dalton Smith and Jose Zepeda square off Saturday, live on DAZN, with the winner expected to move closer to a world title opportunity.

Briton Smith heads into the fight undefeated and he plans to stays that way against experienced American Zepeda when the pair clash in Sheffield.

Zepeda is coming off a loss to Richardson Hitchins in Sept. 2023, his second defeat in his last three fights. The 34-year-old has already hinted that he would retire should he lose to Smith, as he doesn't see a way to another title shot if he suffers another defeat in such short order.

Despite this, Smith doesn't feel like he's meeting a fighter on the way down. The 27-year-old sees Zepeda as a worthy challenge at this stage of his career, and he's prepared for his older opponent to help him continue his way up the ladder in the division.

"We haven’t looked at Jose as a sliding fighter, he’s only lost at world level, none of those losses have been on the way down," Smith said at a pre-fight press conference on Thursday.

"That’s why we took this fight and we’ve prepared for the best of Jose; he’s only interested in the biggest fights so his career is on the line in this fight and it’s a step-up for me and the opportunity to propel my career onto the world level.

https://images.daznservices.com/di/l...37717117&w=800

"It’s a jump in class but you’ve seen the level that I’ve progressed through, I’ve been ready for that level for probably two fights now, so this is the perfect time for me now to propel myself and chase those bigger things.

As for how Saturday's fight will go, Smith said there is a lot of similarities between himself and Zepeda but he believes being the smarter boxer will help lead him to victory.

"He’s a massive puncher, but so am I," Smith said. "It’s going to be one hell of a fight. I believe I’ve got the better boxing brain but, in any fight, you go into, you’ve got to be switched on, you cannot switch off as that’s how you lose in boxing, switching off for a second.

"So, I am switched on for 12 rounds, looking for the biggest performance so far in my career and I can’t wait to show you all."


https://www.dazn.com/en-GB/news/boxi...b1kljl1f3y95gb

chon is worn but is still a dangerous step up for dalton

Leivars v Mirga on now which is turning into a good scrap.

Hatton looks like his dad 25 years ago

Hatton does not punch hard enough but has volume. He does get hit a lot like his dad. Flint getting in with some heavy shots.

Hatton lost over 10 ???. Not getting the card but Zepeda won’t have to chase Smith, at least all night. Wouldn’t be surprised if a cut ends it.

Hatton needed that loss tbh. He's won a few controversials. Maybe it will make him a better fighter.

I like what I am seeing in Ishmael Davis.

Williamsons experience showing now though!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KickMuck

Williamsons experience showing now though!

---

Davis doing well in the last round.

One of them fights where I felt Williamson thrown and landed more but Davis with the accurate and crisp shots.

Accuracy and crisp gets the judges ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6d0pavz63M

Harper v Sandy Ryan on now.

Harper is getting battered by Ryan. They stop it.

Here I was thinking Harper was fighting clever saving herself for the later rounds. Who called the stoppage?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KickMuck

Here I was thinking Harper was fighting clever saving herself for the later rounds. Who called the stoppage?

---

Her corner called it off.

Zepeda wins first round with some hard shots that made Smith retreat.

Zepeda fast, accurate and heavy handed winning the second round too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Master

Zepeda fast, accurate and heavy handed winning the second round too.

---

Yeah bring that Mexican southpaw danger.

Smith landing the one two to win round 3 but still had scary moments there.

2-1 Zepeda

Smith boxing the ears off Zepeda in round 4, he seems to have found his rythem.

2-2

Wow great stuff from Dalton!!!

Smith stops Zepeda with a body shot in the 5th round. Straight right hand did it.

Impressive performance.

What a performance From Dalton Smith. Picked his shots, wasted barely any, Never over committed. Calm and collective ageist a dangerous southpaw opponent who has buckets more in the way of experience.

I'm impressed.

He's calling out Adam Azim.. I sense a Jr Witter/Hatton on that one.

Body shot stoppage. Zepeda May have been a greyer Zepeda but that is impressive. And Smith picks up a green trinket to crack the top ten. Good for him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KickMuck

He's calling out Adam Azim.. I sense a Jr Witter/Hatton on that one.

---

That would be a huge domestic match but both are destined for world titles in the future so they may not make it.

Azim needs more experience.

Good performance from Smith. Just when I was starting to think 'has anyone thrown a body shot?' Crack! Reminded me a bit of Joshua Povetkin. A few rounds of danger against an older, but still dangerous left hand. Then do your thing. That lead right uppercut that Smith walked Zepeda onto was a cracker, that hit the pause button for a minute. The body shot hurt him so bad, that he couldn't stand, and couldn't fall either. Paralysed.

I didn't catch the undercard in full. Was watching a shit football match at the same time. How the fucking fuck is Ishmael Davis a light middle? The dudes massive. Another weight anomaly. Terri Harper down in weight getting chewed up and spat out by Sandy Ryan. Ryan picked up part of the prize she should have got when she beat McCaskill.

I did get drawn into the Flint Hatton fight. I feel a bit for Campbell Hatton. The very same internet boxing fans who wax lyrical about 'anyone who climbs through the ropes deserves respect' on a Wednesday, will be giving him both barrels on Saturday night Sunday morning for being a shit daddy's boy. I don't subscribe to the 'anyone who climbs through the ropes deserves respect' cliche. But if you do, you surely have to give Hatton his respect for climbing through the ropes, and trying his best when he got there. He could have quit. He could have swallowed it. He didn't. He carried on until the bitter end doing anything he could to get through it. That! deserves a bit of respect.

Yes, Campbell Hatton has been afforded opportunities based on his (fathers) name that otherwise wouldn't have come his way. Promotors are in the business of selling a product. A product sells better with the name Hatton on it.

We love to define peoples Everest for them don't we. We assume then insist that they shoot for the stars. Then can't wait to give them a kicking when they fail to launch. I've never heard the lad speak about boxing in general let alone what his hopes and expectations are. But if his Everest is an area title, without being able to box or follow basic instructions. He's not too far away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgTapsWW5DM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLIjY18RaUs