Round-by-Round: Dalton Smith vs. Jose Zepeda | DAZN - 23 March 2024

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dalton Smith vs. Jose Zepeda, Sandy Ryan vs. Terri Harper - March 23 in Sheffield

Matchroom return to the Utilita Arena Sheffield on Saturday March 23 as the Steel City’s fast-rising Super-Lightweight contender Dalton Smith (15-0, 11 KOs) steps up against the USA’s three-time World Title challenger Jose Zepeda ( 37-4, 28 KOs) and Derby’s WBO Welterweight World Champion Sandy Ryan (6-1-1, 2 KOs) puts her gold on the line against Denaby Main’s two-division World Champion Terri Harper (14-1-2, 6 KOs) in a big domestic clash.

‘Thunder’ reinforced his credentials as a future World Champion last time out by sensationally wiping out Liverpool’s Sam Maxwell with a vicious one-punch knockout in the seventh round of their meeting in Sheffield to add the Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Title to his British Title that he has now won outright.

California’s Zepeda has twice challenged for world honors at Super-Lightweight – falling short on points against Jose Carlos Ramirez for the WBC crown in 2019 before suffering an eleventh-round stoppage against Regis Prograis for the same title in November 2022. In his only previous visit to the UK Zepeda suffered a dislocated left shoulder during his challenge for the vacant WBO Lightweight World Title against Manchester’s Terry Flanagan.

WBO 147lbs ruler Ryan will be looking to bounce back from a controversial split decision draw against WBC and WBA World Champion Jessica McCaskill in Orlando last September.

Ryan was left bitterly disappointed following her World Title unification clash having felt she did enough to earn a career-best win. Harper was also left frustrated after her draw with Cecilia Braekhus last October but the 27-year-old now has the opportunity to claim a World Title in a third weight division following her success at Super-Featherweight and Super-Welterweight. Also on the card, Hyde’s Campbell Hatton (14-0, 5 KOs) goes for his first title when he meets Doncaster’s James Flint (13-1-2, 3 KOs) for the Central Area Super-Lightweight Title.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[wrighty]

Tough fight this

[margaret thatcher]

not bad, zep look a bit shopworn lately but still step up and dangerous on paper for dalt (obligatory 'sheffield's best ever amateur' mention)

[SeanBrennan]

Good name to get on record, and in terms of Boxrec, a step up (15 ranking places). It's in Sheffield so Zepeda needs a schooling or a KO to win.

Good domestic women's fight on it too. Looking forward to it. I do think Smith can go all the way, esp with his father behind him.

[The_Don1]

Smith bores his way to to an underwhelming decision against a past his best Zepeda, Eddie Hearn makes the most of telling Parsons he's just beat a former world champion.

Harper looked dreadful against an old Braekhus, I'd expect Ryan to take a comfortable decision here, if you're interested in that sort of thing.

[SeanBrennan]

Smith bores his way to to an underwhelming decision against a past his best Zepeda, Eddie Hearn makes the most of telling Parsons he's just beat a former world champion.

Harper looked dreadful against an old Braekhus, I'd expect Ryan to take a comfortable decision here, if you're interested in that sort of thing.

Bit harsh I feel re Smith. He is undefeated and has stopped 3/4 of his opponents. Won 5 titles already. He is on a journey, he's 26 and had 15 fights. People like you do me me chuckle.

[a force]

I might go to this. I really want to get behind Dalton with him been a local fighter but he’s not exactly exciting to watch but I think he’s got the right opponent here.

[The_Don1]

Smith bores his way to to an underwhelming decision against a past his best Zepeda, Eddie Hearn makes the most of telling Parsons he's just beat a former world champion.

Harper looked dreadful against an old Braekhus, I'd expect Ryan to take a comfortable decision here, if you're interested in that sort of thing.

Bit harsh I feel re Smith. He is undefeated and has stopped 3/4 of his opponents. Won 5 titles already. He is on a journey, he's 26 and had 15 fights. People like you do me me chuckle.

It's not being harsh, he's never been the most urgent of fighters and he'll be aware of the supposed threat of Zepeda's power, he'll box to instructions and I'll wager every round will look the same in the way that Catterall-Linares did. This isn't a slight on Smith, who I rate, just an observation of having watched all his fights and the the matchmaking. Feel free to come back and smug me off if I'm wrong.

[SeanBrennan]

I might go to this. I really want to get behind Dalton with him been a local fighter but he’s not exactly exciting to watch but I think he’s got the right opponent here.

I'm considering it too, I do enjoy watching him though.

[Rockytony67]

Teofimo having a dig

[jameswilson]

Teofimo would know all about having his budget cut.

Campbell Hatton fighting for the Central area title on this card as well.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[SeanBrennan]

Fair play though they've got a Lion fighting a bird of prey on the undercard.

[SeanBrennan]

Teofimo would know all about having his budget cut.

Campbell Hatton fighting for the Central area title on this card as well.

Just seen this, vs a non puncher from Donny who has lot for the area title before, and had two 'draws' as the home fighter, so he's definitely lost 3 fights. Also 'won' a 58-57 as home fighter in Barnsley vs a fighter from Gateshead, so likely lost 4. Just finished re-reading the Journeyman book by Mark Turley so now classing tight wins vs journeymen as losses. Such an eye opening book.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[handsofstone]

Seen a few people dismiss Zepeda off the bat, I'm not so sure, I like this fight for Smith, it's a solid step up in competition, Zepeda not the fighter he was but can ask Smith questions, good fight imo

[SeanBrennan]

Seen a few people dismiss Zepeda off the bat, I'm not so sure, I like this fight for Smith, it's a solid step up in competition, Zepeda not the fighter he was but can ask Smith questions, good fight imo

i'm looking forward to it. Good to see Cameron on the card too.

[jwfg]

Troy Williamson has come in very heavy.

[Fightdoctor]

Dalton Smith will stop Zepeda. Zepeda already has that loser mentality in the recent interviews I have seen. He will be too slow against Smith. I think Smith will be able to hit him at will and avoid anything coming back. Zepeda does have a chin and Smith is very cut-prone with scar tissue on each eyelid. However I like Smith by 9th rd stoppage. On the undercard Ryan beats down Harper by 8th rd stoppage.

[SeanBrennan]

Troy Williamson has come in very heavy.

4 pounds over, not good. Not sure this will go ahead? If it does Ishmael should be taking a good piece of Troy's purse.

[gregregegg]

Troy Williamson has come in very heavy.

Terrible. Should be canned really. Or he should have a crippling rehydration clause put on him.

If you miss weight you should be punished, so it should be a real genuine disadvantage not somthing fair.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Night!!

[BigDoofus]

Dalton Smith will stop Zepeda. Zepeda already has that loser mentality in the recent interviews I have seen. He will be too slow against Smith. I think Smith will be able to hit him at will and avoid anything coming back. Zepeda does have a chin and Smith is very cut-prone with scar tissue on each eyelid. However I like Smith by 9th rd stoppage. On the undercard Ryan beats down Harper by 8th rd stoppage.

He’s had 1 win and 2 losses in the last 2 years. I saw an interview with Zepeda from a couple of days ago and he was mentioning retirement which is worrying.

[Ruthless-RKO]

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