Dalton Smith ‘Coming Into My Prime’ And Ready For Step Up To World Level Against Jose Zepeda
British super-lightweight Dalton Smith believes he is entering his prime years and said he is ready to take the next step in his career when he faces the experienced Jose Zepeda on Saturday.
Smith (15-0-0 11 KO) added the Commonwealth belt to his British title in his last fight – a seventh-round victory over Sam Maxwell in July last year – and had planned to go for the European strap. However, his promoters Matchroom were beaten to it by Boxxer, who secured their fighter Adam Azim the shot, which he duly took in style.
That forced Smith and his representatives to look in another direction, and on Saturday night in his native Sheffield, the 27-year-old will take on three-time world title challenger Zepeda in what is expected to be his toughest fight to date.
However, Smith is convinced that his progress as a fighter has prepared him for this moment, and he is determined to show the rest of a stacked super-lightweight division that he means business.
“In the next couple of years I’m going to be coming into my prime,” he said in an interview with The Ring Magazine. “Obviously you mature as a person, you mature as a fighter. Not only that, I’m gaining the experience as well. It’s a process, it’s about your development as a fighter. I just feel I’m becoming that all-round fighter now and becoming a championship fighter.”
‘Zepeda Has Nothing I Can’t Match’
Smith enters the fight with Zepeda (37-4-0 28 KO) as the marginal favorite, although there is a huge disparity in experience; the 34-year-old American turned pro in 2009 when Smith was just 12 years old and has contested almost triple the number of fights.
“[Zepeda] has the experience, he’s been at a high level, (has) ring I.Q., but for me that’s nothing I can’t match,” Smith said. “I don’t think Zepeda is that much on the slide. You look at his resume and he’s only lost at the top level against the good kids. I just think stylistically it’s a good fight and I’m looking forward to it.”
There have been frequent calls for Smith to fight Azim in recent years, and after being denied to chance to become European champion by his rival, those calls have only grown louder. Smith admitted that it is a fight he wants, although his full focus is on Zepeda and Saturday night.
“Yeah, it’s a massive fight and it would be nice to get that blue belt to my collection, the European, The only one I need after that is a world title,” he said. “I want all the belts. It’s a big fight in the U.K. it’s probably one of the main fights boxing fans and the public are talking about. Of course, my full focus is on the 23rd against Jose Zepeda put a big performance is there. Whatever the biggest fight is and makes the most sense is where I’m going to go.”
Smith Follows In Illustrious Footsteps
Smith, however, is not convinced Azim has quite the same interest in the fight, adding: “It’s looking more likely he’s going to go a different route. To make a fight happen it takes two to tango. You can’t force anybody into a fight. My focus is on Jose Zepeda, whatever they want to do that’s up to them. If I am to look after this fight the Adam Azim fight is the one getting mentioned, the purse bids are up there. It’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.”
By headlining the Sheffield Arena in England, Smith is following in the footsteps of world champions from his home city in topping a major bill. The likes of ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, and Kell Brook all hail from the ‘Steel City’ and Smith is understandably proud to join such illustrious company.
“No pressure! I always said this is what I worked hard for to be that next kid coming through, it’s all down to me to put on the performances and keep the roll going,” he said. “Most fights I have those names get mentioned, Sheffield has produced some great names, the list goes on. I feel I’m that next kid to take on that legacy and carry that torch for my city and keep the legacy going and it’s my job to inspire the next generation also.”
Should he successfully get past Zepeda, Smith will aim to use the victory to propel himself up the rankings and get into contention for an eventual world title shot in a competitive division.
“It’s a big fight and a big performance and my name is there with the big names,” he said. “The 140-pound division is stacked, there’s a lot of talent, there’s a lot of good kids in there, you can’t be pussy footing around taking easy fights. “If I want to be a world champion and be the best, I’ve got to go through these guys and prove to people I am one of the top guys in the division.”
