WBC Orders Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello Mandatory Fight

Negotiations open for WBC junior welterweight title fight before an April 3 purse bid deadline

The WBC has ordered Dalton Smith to defend his junior welterweight title against Alberto Puello.
The sanctioning body opened a 30-day negotiation period before a purse bid.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed the order in a letter sent to both camps, formally opening the negotiation period for the bout. The notice states that if the sides fail to reach an agreement within the window, the World Boxing Council will move the fight to a purse bid.

“If no agreement is reached between parties, the WBC will conduct a purse offer pursuant to the WBC Rules and Regulations on Friday, April 3, 2026,” Sulaiman wrote in the ruling obtained by BoxingScene.

Smith enters the negotiations after capturing the WBC title in January with a fifth-round knockout of Subriel Matias at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The unbeaten British fighter went into that contest as the mandatory challenger and ended Matias’ title reign with the stoppage victory.

The order requires Smith to defend the belt against Puello, who had already been guaranteed the next title opportunity after his majority decision loss to Matias last July. The result produced debate among observers, and the WBC informed Puello afterward that he would challenge the next champion once the title changed hands.

Puello previously held the WBA junior welterweight title before losing the belt outside the ring in 2023 after a positive test for clomiphene ahead of a planned defense against Rolando Romero. Puello later stated the substance had been prescribed while he and his wife were attempting to start a family. After serving a suspension, he returned to competition and rebuilt his position in the division with several wins, including a victory over Gary Antuanne Russell for the interim WBO belt.

Negotiations now move to the promotional level between Smith’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, and Puello’s representatives connected to Premier Boxing Champions. If a deal is not finalized during the negotiation period, the WBC will open a purse bid on April 3 to determine promotional rights for the bout.