DALTON SMITH won’t be combating for the European super-lightweight title any time quickly.
That’s in accordance with the EBU web site who revealed yesterday (November 6) that Smith’s combat in opposition to Jon Fernandez wouldn’t be going forward. The vacant title bout had been mooted for December however the Sheffield contender was described in an EBU correspondence as ‘nonetheless not able to combat on account of damage’.
It added that Smith’s promoter Matchroom needed to reschedule the combat for February however this was deemed ‘not acceptable’ by the Spanish staff. Subsequently a brand new challenger can be put ahead to face Fernandez with the winner to face Smith who would retain his place as subsequent necessary challenger within the meantime.
That was not the top of the matter, nevertheless.
In a separate communication practically three hours later the EBU revealed that Smith didn’t need the place of ‘subsequent necessary contender’ withdrawing himself from a title shot.
Boxing Information reached out to Eddie Hearn for a response.
Smith, 16-0 (12 KOs), has been out of motion since his profession finest win in March when he knocked out former world title challenger Jose Zepeda within the fifth spherical. A month earlier Smith’s rival Adam Azim made a profitable first defence of his European 140lbs belt having beat Franck Petitjean three months earlier to develop into Britain’s 12th holder of the title.
Azim was additionally mandated to face Smith however selected as an alternative to vacate the belt prompting criticism from followers and Smith’s staff. Each fighters have mentioned they’re prepared to face each other but it surely seems their respective promoters (Hearn and Ben Shalom) wish to make this home conflict as huge as attainable.
Smith at the moment finds himself on this planet’s high 10 with the IBF however out of the image with the three different sanctioning our bodies. Matchroom are awash with fighters within the 140lb division and Smith will anticipate finding himself in an enormous combat subsequent yr as he appears to be like to dwelling in on his first world title combat.
