Dalton Smith left Sheffield with his WBC light welterweight belt, but Alberto Puello had a strong case for taking it home after their disputed split decision on Saturday night.

Smith received two 115-113 cards at the Utilita Arena on October 24. The other judge scored it 116-112 for Puello, whose stronger work late in the fight appeared enough to earn a narrow victory.

Smith’s stock took a hit tonight. He kept the belt, but Puello exposed limitations that the Matias stoppage had concealed. Smith struggled to create sustained offense against movement and accurate counters, then showboated in a final round he should have been trying hard to win.

The disputed decision adds to that damage. Instead of leaving Sheffield with a stronger reputation, Smith leaves with fans debating whether he deserved to retain his title. His record improved; his standing among the division’s best did not.

Smith spent portions of the 12th showboating while Puello continued trying to win the fight. That was a poor choice in a contest with so many close rounds. The challenger got the better of the action, while Smith behaved as though his lead was secure.

It wasn’t the finish Smith needed. Three minutes of concentrated work could have strengthened his claim to victory. Instead, he handed Puello another argument against the verdict.

Puello had been difficult to pin down throughout the DAZN main event. His southpaw jab, movement and counters repeatedly interrupted Smith’s attempts to establish his offense. Smith landed right hands and had success moving forward, but the pressure did not consistently produce clean punches.

This was a tactical fight with few prolonged attacks. Both had successful spells, and several rounds offered little separation. Smith’s supporters could point to his right hands and initiative; Puello’s case rested on accuracy, defensive work and his stronger finish.

The challenger increased his activity late, landing left hands and keeping Smith from opening up comfortably. By the championship rounds, Puello looked like the fighter doing more to settle a close contest.

Smith’s response in the final round made the outcome harder to accept. The crowd might have enjoyed the showboating, but Puello was still competing for the belt. There was no obvious cushion that justified treating those closing minutes as a celebration.

A close fight does not automatically make the decision indefensible. Smith had rounds he could reasonably claim. Equally, the hometown setting should not turn forward movement into an advantage when the visitor is landing the cleaner shots.

Smith was making his first defense after stopping Subriel Matias in January. Against Puello, he encountered a different kind of challenge: an experienced technician who denied him easy openings and remained effective late.

The belt stays in Sheffield. The argument over who earned it will follow Smith into his next fight, particularly if Puello does not receive another opportunity.