As the boxing world gears up for another thrilling weekend, all eyes are on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where Dalton Smith is poised to challenge Subriel Matias for the WBC super lightweight title. This high-stakes bout, scheduled for Saturday night, has been shrouded in controversy following Matias’ positive test for the banned substance Ostarine in a VADA test on November 9. Despite this setback, both the WBC and the New York State Athletic Commission have greenlit the fight, citing that the levels of Ostarine were below the threshold used in multiple jurisdictions, including Nevada, California, and New York.
The New York State Athletic Commission acknowledged Matias’ adverse analytic finding but deemed it within acceptable limits. This decision has paved the way for Smith to potentially become Britain’s fifth active world champion. At 28, Smith is on the cusp of his first world title, while his 33-year-old Puerto Rican opponent, Matias, is a seasoned two-time titlist who narrowly defeated Alberto Puello in New York back in July.
The promotional rights for this showdown were secured by Fresh Productions after a successful purse bid in September, outbidding Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. The undercard bouts are set to commence at 8pm ET/1am GMT, with the main event expected to start at 11pm ET/4am GMT, although these timings are subject to change based on the duration of the undercard fights.
Fans in the UK and USA can catch the action live on PPV.com, with the fight priced at $59.99 in the USA and £41.95 in the UK. The undercard features several exciting matchups, including Alfredo Santiago vs. Hedri Cedeno for the WBO NABO and WBO Intercontinental super lightweight titles, and Nestor Bravo vs. Pedro Campa in the super lightweight division.
Matias’ recent record includes a majority decision victory over Alberto Puello, an eighth-round TKO against Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela, and a second-round TKO against Roberto Ramirez. Smith, on the other hand, has secured a unanimous decision against Mathieu Germain, a first-round TKO against Walid Ouizza, and a fifth-round KO against Jose Zepeda.
As the boxing community eagerly awaits this clash, the controversy surrounding Matias’ positive test adds an extra layer of intrigue. Will Smith overcome the odds and bring the WBC super lightweight title back to Britain? Or will Matias’ experience and resilience prevail? One thing is certain: this fight promises to be a memorable start to what is shaping up to be another banner year for boxing in 2025.
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