Alberto Puello does not fear home cooking ahead of facing Dalton Smith for the WBC junior welterweight title in Smith’s hometown of Sheffield, England.

Puello was once the owner of the famous green-and-gold belt, but lost his title to Subriel Matias in a controversial majority decision defeat last year. Puello – and many watching ringside and at home – felt he had done enough to defeat the hard-hitting Puerto Rican, however, Matias was awarded the victory. Matias would then go on to lose the belt to Smith after being stopped inside five rounds back in January.

Now Puello must travel to the UK – the British Boxing Board of Control have come under criticism for biased judging in recent years – to attempt to rip away Smith’s title in the champion’s back yard.

“I'm not worried in any sense about this,” Puello told BoxingScene. “I might not be the favorite in that sense, but that's for the people who don't know me. I feel like I'm a fighter, I'm a boxer, I'm a champion without a belt, without a crown.

“I feel I was unfairly treated in the fight with Sabriel Matias. I'm not worried about the infamous reputation of the British judges, nor going into my opponent's backyard. Those things don't concern me.”

The controversial defeat to Matias in 2025 no longer takes up space in Puello’s mind.

“What’s done is done. That fight is over,” said Puello. “I’m not really thinking about a rematch with Subriel Matias at this time, but in boxing, who knows? Maybe that is God’s plan, maybe that will happen in the future, we just don’t know. But it’s not in my immediate plans right now.”

After being denied by the judges somewhat controversially in his last title fight, one would think Puello would be looking to take the result out of the judges’ hands.

“No, that's not something that I'll be looking to go out and do,” he said. “I'm not a boxer that goes out looking for the knockout, but if it presents itself, then that's different. The most important thing for me is to go in and get this win at all costs.

“Alberto Puello will be taking home that belt to the Dominican Republic.”