The ambitious boxing calendar curated by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh continues to take shape, with reports emerging of yet another high-stakes world title fight potentially landing on a major card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The buzz suggests that newly crowned WBC Super-Lightweight Champion, Subriel Matias, could make his first defense against mandatory challenger Dalton Smith as early as November 22nd.
This potential clash would add further significant depth to an already stacked event rumored for that date, which is expected to feature prominent bouts like David Benavidez versus Anthony Yarde for the WBC Light-Heavyweight title, and WBO Welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. against Devin Haney. The rapid assembly of such significant matchups has become a hallmark of the Riyadh boxing scene, where major declarations often precede official announcements with impressive speed.
The speculation gained traction following an apparent face-off between Matias and Smith shortly after Matias secured his WBC belt. Matias, known for his fearsome punching power, recently claimed the vacant title by earning a majority decision victory over Alberto Puello in New York. This win marked a return to championship status for the Puerto Rican fighter, who previously held the IBF title before losing it to Liam Paro last year.
Across the ring, Dalton Smith has solidified his position as the WBC`s mandatory challenger at 140 pounds. The Sheffield fighter earned his spot through consistent performances, notably a punishing stoppage win over Jose Zepeda over a year ago, followed by comfortable victories that underlined his credentials as a leading contender in the division.
While an official confirmation from the event organizers is still pending, the indication from key figures like Alalshikh strongly points towards Matias and Smith being slated to meet. For Smith, it represents a career-defining opportunity to compete for a world title on one of boxing`s biggest stages. For Matias, it`s an immediate test of his reign against a determined and well-regarded mandatory opponent.
Should this fight be formally announced, it would solidify the November 22nd Riyadh event as one of the year`s most significant cards, bringing together talent from multiple divisions in a globally watched spectacle.
