Bigger nights beckon

Smith has spoken about pursuing unification fights in 2027.

Shakur Stevenson is a target, but there is no confirmed fight to announce.

The immediate stakes were keeping his belt and unbeaten record.

Now the victory has strengthened his position for those blockbuster bust-ups.

Who’s next?

Gary Russell gets a brief mention as Smith’s next opponent but he’s not the name on everybody’s minds.

Hearn signs off: “I know Shakur Stevenson loves Sheffield in May.”

‘The legacy guy’

Smith says: “I know how hard I worked for this and I wanted to bring it back home for everyone in here.”

Eddie Hearn admits that it could have gone either way, praising Smith for his outstanding performances in Brooklyn and then again tonight.

He hails him as the “legacy guy”.

Thunder rumbles throughout Sheffield

A split decision lands in Smith’s favour as the home crowd celebrate.

115-113, 116-112, 115-113

He goes 20-0 after being out for nine months – and he’s still the world champ.

Smith vs Puello R12

Smith defending his title and undefeated record, the tensions are high.

A tussle see Smith holding Puello’s back as they’re sent to their corners.

This tactical battle has flown by. Smith comes in with all the aggression and the left hand has come in instrumental these last few rounds.

Puello continues fighting back. The crowd are rallying, the blue corner is cheering.

But who’s fight is it?

Everyone will wait for the final verdict but Smith is up on someone’s shoulders with both arms in the air.

Smith vs Puello R11

Puello bursts from the stalls as Smith – with a cut above his right eye – deals with a solid bodyshot.

The ball is in Smith’s corner. He needs to apply some serious pressure after recieving another bodyshot.

The Wasp stings with a right hook to be palmed off with three more shots.

It’s tit for tatt. That looks like a Puello round.

Last round incoming and it’s set up to be fantastic.

Smith vs Puello R10

Into the last nine minutes. Smith comes out fast as the man standing in his way tries to match it.

There’s an argument for both sides walking away with the belt.

It’s got the class that anyone would ask for from a world title.

Smith gets his measure right before Puello comes back out with an excellent effort from his right.

Bobbing and weaving across the canvas, the whole tussle is nip and tuck – whoever goes in first gets countered with something equally impressive.

Step on the right from the outside gives some extra class from Smith.

The three judges have a tricky job on their hands.

Smith vs Puello R9

How the judges are viewing it is yet to be seen.

The double jab comes in clutch as the crowd back their homegrown talent – a cracking bodyshot and defence follows.

Good left to the body as Puello creeps forward. Only for Smith to stop him in his tracks with a double jab.

Puello shows he’s the defensive combinations in his locker to keep this interesting.

Not much more to say than ‘elite’.

Smith vs Puello R8

With the WBC crown on the line, right hand going downstairs from Smith.

But Puello comes back with his own left counter.

Smith could apply a bit more pressure, there’s so much on line, they can’t leave anything in the tank.

Puello’s jab is followed up. Smith goes in with the right hand and follows it up before dipping out of range again.

It was a clean cut round from the Englishman who could have just nicked that one.

Smith vs Puello R7

At the end of the last round, Puello seems to have figured out the range he needs.

Puello venturing into the centre ring. He has the power now to lean back and stop giving Smith the opportunites to capitalise on a silly mistake.

Smith needs to close the gap as he packs the more powerful punch.

But there’s something economical about it.

The father-son duo feel like they won that one with Smith’s dad punching the air after the bell goes.

Smith vs Puello R6

Giant Puello has livened up as the focus hones in. The loose and lazy is fading away.

Smith must be pondering a change of tact.

Puello slips but still climbing into the action with a good jab.

It’s undeniably a seesaw battle as the halfway bell goes.

Smith vs Puello R5

The smash and grab from Brooklyn is echoing here.

Puello’s long legs making it tricky for himself as it pitches him perfectly for Smith to counter.

Puello shoots a lengthy to the body, as Smith continues leaning to the left as his opponent is forced to turn his body to capitalise on anything.

Puello settles into a couple jabs and looks like he may have won the round.

Smith vs Puello R4

Tony Bellew’s unofficial card hands it 29-28 to Smith as things stand.

Puello is being forced to throw first as the confidence oozes from Smith.

A nice left hand follows from the Wasp but the cheers come from the Smith’s corner.

Dalton has landed the harder shots all the way through as he continues on the front foot.

Smith vs Puello R3

Smith comes with the counter which will become all the more important if Puello gets to use his power.

Smith with a magic bodyshot as the Dominican Republic star struggles with his rhythm in the third round.

Nothing dramatic yet and the bell rings after a cracking counter from Smith.

Smith vs Puello R2

Smith looking to get his foot on his outside working his right hand.

He comes out with a jab as he encroaches on the red territory.

Exchange of the right hands come thick and fast.

A better round for the champion.

Smith vs Puello R1

It’s a terrific fight, there’s no question about that.

It’s going to come down who has the smarts on the night with the fine margins.

Smith, in his magic form, has started imposing himself in his home town cauldron but stayed slightly out of range for Puello to cause any real damage.

Puello looks like he may have won the round – but they’re both a way off yet.

Not a landslide.

Smith vs Puello

From the four corners of the world to the four corners of this Sheffield ring, the crowd are rubbing their hands together.

In the red corner, Puello. Across the way in blue, Smith.

Take a deep breathe and the bell rings.

Thunderstruck

Smith swaggers in his ring walk, following Puello.

The crowd is electric.

It’s been a long wait after the June 6 fight was pushed back after Smith’s elbow injury.

But everyone knows the time is now.

No turning back

Puello is the mandatory challenger.

The WBC had ordered the winner of Smith-Matias to face him.

The 32-year-old is a former two-time world champion with wins over Gary Antuanne Russell and Sandor Martin.

But will the Wasp deliver a nasty sting tonight?

Here we go

The belt collector has arrived.

Smith is making his first defence of the WBC super-lightweight world title AND in his home city of Sheffield.

But the question remains of whether the Thunder will rumble as Storm Austen takes over the UK. 

He won it by stopping Subriel Matias in the fifth round in Brooklyn in January.

Now, tonight is his first chance to fight in front of his home crowd as world champion.

Close call

The two lightweights pushed it to the line with the judges.

Both Brits landed shots but the younger southpaw pipped it…

Visioli wins MD

The three judges score it: 95-95, 96-94 and 96-94

Too tight for Team Visioli but he needs to do more.

Visioli vs Hughes R10

Final round now.

Has Visiolo’s cautious approach earned him another win or has Hughes’ second wind helped him spring a surprise.

Visioli pings a few jabs out but he’s miles out of range.

Dull fight. Maxi earned his money as a gatekeeper.

Visioli is classy but won’t sell many tickets with that sort of showing.