Overview
- Smith moved to 19-0 and claimed the WBC super-lightweight belt with a fifth-round knockout of Subriel Matias in Brooklyn.
- He plans to attend Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson on January 31 at Madison Square Garden and is targeting the winner for a unification bout.
- New York regulators allowed the Matias fight to proceed after an ostarine finding was judged below enforcement thresholds, and Smith later condemned PED use and said he lost respect for Matias.
- Smith told ESPN that Azim needs to build his résumé before they meet, as Azim prepares to face Gustavo Lemos on January 31 and has talked about pursuing IBF champion Richardson Hitchins before any Smith unification.
- Promoter Eddie Hearn is exploring major event options, including a potential stadium fight, while Alberto Puello sits as Smith’s WBC mandatory contender.