Dalton Smith will have to wait a few more weeks for his next ring appearance.
However, the show will apparently go on without its headlining act.
The Ring has learned that Sheffield’s Smith was forced to postpone his planned Sept. 28 DAZN headliner versus Spain’s Jon Fernandez. A reported, though undisclosed, injury is the cause for the delay.
Smith-Fernandez was due to take place at Utilita Arena in Smith’s hometown of Sheffield, England. The Ring was informed that plans are in place to move forward with the card, though likely at a new location. It is not clear at this goes to publication whether a new headliner will be sought or if an undercard bout will advance to the top slot.
The balance of the show includes the rescheduled Rhiannon Dixon-Terri Harper WBO lightweight title fight. Harper (14-2-2, 6 knockouts)—a former 130-pound and 154-pound titlist—hails from nearby Denaby Main and was due to fight at the venue for the third straight time. A new location would not make such a main event as relevant.
Cheshire’s Dixon (10-0, 1 KO) will attempt the first defense of her title. She won the belt in a ten-round decision over Argentina’s Karen Carabajal (22-2, 3 KOs) on April 13 at AO Arena in Manchester.
Heavyweight prospect Johnny Fisher (12-0, 11 KOs) was also recently added to the undercard. The popular boxer from Romford, London will face Andrii Rudenko (36-7, 22 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round contest. Fisher enjoyed his first main event in a July 6 first-round knockout of Alen Babic (12-2, 11 KOs) at Copper Box Arena.
The “Bosh” heavyweight is the more likely candidate to advance to the headlining act.
Smith (16-0, 12 KOs) was due to challenge for the vacant European 140-pound title. Much was made about his previously ordered clash versus Adam Azim (11-0, 8 KOs), whose team blatantly steered him away from the matchup.
The fight versus Fernandez (26-3, 22 KOs) is a natural next step in the career of Smith, a fast-rising talent. Smith is coming off a fifth-round knockout of former title challenger Jose Zepeda on March 23. He equally impressed in a seventh-round stoppage of Sam Maxwell last July 1. Both bouts took place at Utilita Arena.
Expectations are for Smith-Fernandez to be rescheduled later this fall.
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The post Dalton Smith-Jon Fernandez Bout Postponed; Sept. 28 DAZN Show Expected To Move Forward appeared first on The Ring.
