Overview
- Smith floored the champion with right hands in Round 5 at Barclays Center, leading to a referee stoppage for Matias’ first knockout loss.
- The Sheffield native improves to 19-0 and becomes the UK’s fifth current male world champion, boosting his profile at 140 pounds.
- NYSAC and the WBC cleared the bout after Matias’ November VADA positives were judged low in concentration and below their action levels, with the WBC citing mitigating factors.
- Eddie Hearn praised Smith as a rising star, and prominent fighters including Devin Haney and Richardson Hitchins weighed in with immediate reactions.
- Next steps discussed include a homecoming in Sheffield or unification pursuits, with eyes on Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson on January 31 and fellow titleholders Gary Russell Jr. and Hitchins.