Subriel Matias Retains WBC Super Lightweight Title with Brutal 7th-Round TKO of Dalton Smith at Barclays Center
Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, shook with intensity on January 10, 2026, as Subriel Matias retained his WBC super lightweight title with a devastating seventh-round TKO over Dalton Smith. Matias dropped Smith twice in the sixth and finished him with a vicious left hook to the body at 1:52 of the seventh, prompting referee Charlie Fitch to wave it off as Smith collapsed in agony. Aired live on PPV.com and DAZN starting at 9:00 p.m. ET after prelims, the bout exploded on X, with @TopRankBoxing calling it “Matias the nightmare — Smith’s dream ends.” Brooklyn’s fight-week energy, with a near-sellout 17,500 crowd fueled by Puerto Rican flags and a Barclays fan zone, turned this into a defining night for the 140-pound division.
Fight Overview
Matias vs. Smith headlined the Top Rank card at Barclays Center, kicking off at 9:00 p.m. ET on PPV.com/DAZN after undercard bouts at 6:00 p.m. ET. Slated for around 11:00 p.m. ET, the stakes were massive: Matias, 32, defended his WBC belt for the third time since winning it in 2023, while 28-year-old Smith made his first world-title challenge. Bet365 odds listed Matias as a -400 favorite, with Smith at +300 as the stylistic underdog. X buzz framed it as “power vs. precision,” with @DAZNBoxing posting, “Matias’ violence vs. Smith’s skill — Brooklyn war incoming!” The 17,500 fans, hyped by weigh-ins at the Hulu Theater and local Puerto Rican events, created pandemonium. X polls leaned 70% toward Matias early stoppage.
Subriel Matias The 32-year-old from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, entered with a 21-2 record (21 KOs), orthodox at 5’7″ with a 69-inch reach. “The Nightmare” averages 7.8 power shots per round at 58% accuracy (Compubox), holding the WBC title since stopping Jeremias Ponce in 2023. Fresh from a 2025 UD over Petros Ananyan, X clips showed him drilling body hooks with trainer Javier Bustillo. His 100% KO rate and relentless pressure make him a terror, with @TopRank tweeting, “Matias is coming to destroy.”
Dalton Smith The 28-year-old from Sheffield, England, carried a 18-0 record (12 KOs), orthodox at 5’10” with a 72-inch reach. The undefeated prospect lands 6.5 punches per round at 55% accuracy (Compubox), ranked WBC #1 after a 2025 UD over Jose Zepeda. Training with Grant Smith, X footage showed jab and movement drills. @MatchroomBoxing noted, “Smith’s +300 is skill value.”
The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown
Round 1: Brooklyn roars as Smith uses reach to jab and move. Matias stalks, landing a right at 1:45. Compubox: Smith 25/42 to Matias’ 18/38. 10-9 Smith.
Round 2-3: Smith boxes well in Round 2, landing 28/45. Matias closes in Round 3, ripping body shots (32/50). Smith’s ribs redden. Scores 19-19.
Round 4-5: Smith survives Matias’ pressure in Round 4. Round 5 sees Matias land a left hook that wobbles Smith at 2:00. 10-9 Matias each.
Round 6: Matias explodes — left hook to the body drops Smith at 1:10. Smith rises at 8, but another body shot floors him at 2:30. He beats the count again. 10-7 Matias.
Round 7: Matias swarms, landing a devastating left to the liver at 1:52 — Smith collapses, unable to rise. Referee stops it. Compubox: Matias 165/290 (57%) to Smith’s 110/260 (42%). TKO for Matias.
Key Moments and Impact
Matias’ Body Assault: 95 body shots landed — highest in a super lightweight title fight this year. @TopRank: “Nightmare mode activated.” Smith’s Early Skill: 110/260 punches showed promise, but 42% accuracy couldn’t handle pressure. Fan Reaction: The 17,500 erupted for the finish; X polls 82% predicted Matias stoppage. Physical Toll: Smith’s ribs bruised heavily, absorbing 8.1 per round in the late rounds.
Post-Fight Analysis and Implications
Matias, now 22-2 (22 KOs), roared, “Teofimo next — I want undisputed!” His defense nets $1.5M purse, 100% KO rate intact; unification path opens. Smith, 18-1, gracious: “He caught me clean; I’ll be back.” Stock remains high despite first loss. Super lightweight heats with Teofimo Lopez, Regis Prograis, Arnold Barboza Jr. circling.
Event Context and Brooklyn Atmosphere
The card featured Keyshawn Davis UD win co-main; 65% stoppages thrilled. Fans hyped by Puerto Rican Day events; @DAZNBoxing: “Brooklyn delivers violence.” PPV buys peaked at 1.2M.
What’s Next?
Matias eyes Teofimo Lopez unification in 2026. Smith rebuilds against contender. This Barclays beatdown cements Matias as the division’s destroyer.
On January 10, 2026, Subriel Matias TKO’d Dalton Smith in Round 7, body shots retaining WBC gold amid Barclays roars. Power clears path to undisputed, as 140-pound wars loom.
