Dalton Smith landed the first blow before a punch has even been thrown, switching into Spanish to deliver a pointed warning to Alberto Puello as the WBC world champion made his presence felt in front of Sheffield Wednesday supporters at Hillsborough.

The unbeaten Sheffield fighter surprised his Dominican challenger by addressing him in his native language during Saturday’s face-off, making it clear that he has no intention of surrendering his super-lightweight crown on home soil.

“This is my house. You’re in my house now, my friend. You’re already looking skinny.”

Puello, 32, was having none of it, responding with a football style reply of his own: “It’s coming with me now. It’s coming home with me.”

The verbal sparring sets the scene for the showdown at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday, when the Owls fan makes the first defence of the WBC title he captured in New York earlier this year.

Smith, 29, arrives with an unbeaten professional record of 19 victories, including 14 knockouts. His career-defining moment came in January, when he stopped Subriel Matias in the fifth round to claim the world championship in a hostile away environment.

Now the Steel City gym favourite gets the homecoming he craved, but Puello represents a formidable first obstacle.

The experienced southpaw, whose record stands at 25 wins and one defeat, has previously held both the WBA and WBC super-lightweight world titles.

His only professional loss came against Matias in July 2025, when he surrendered the WBC belt.

That defeat makes the Dominican particularly dangerous: he knows what it takes to reach the summit and will be desperate to reclaim world honours.

The contest had originally been scheduled for earlier in the year before injury delayed the meeting, adding further anticipation to a fight that pits Smith’s explosive finishing power against Puello’s technical ability and experience.

The betting markets make Smith the favourite, with UK odds around 4/7 on the champion and 13/8 on Puello, although prices can change between bookmakers.

Those odds reflect confidence in the home fighter, but the challenger’s pedigree suggests this is no foregone conclusion.

The main event headlines a strong supporting programme, with Doncaster's wily veteran Maxi Hughes taking on rising talent Giorgio Visioli for the WBC International Silver lightweight title.

Hughes brings valuable experience to the encounter, while Visioli has the opportunity to make a significant statement.

Shannon Ryan and Emma Dolan renew their rivalry in a rematch for the British, Commonwealth and IBF Intercontinental titles, providing another major domestic attraction.

Elsewhere, North East cruiserweight prospect Divine Omojor is set to make his professional debut, while teenage heavyweight Leo Atang continues his rapid development. Atang has already recorded eight professional victories, seven inside the distance, since turning professional last year.

The wider card also features Doncaster's Edward Hardy against Ibrahim Nadim, Aqib Fiaz versus Jordan Flynn, Doncaster's Joe Hayden against Will Harrison, Connor Mitchell against an opponent still to be confirmed, and Rotherham's Chris Mulunda facing Harley Colison.