Dalton Smith vows to produce world title winning performance on Saturday night to keep WBC ambitions intact

Dalton Smith has vowed to do all of his talking inside the ring against Mathieu Germain on Saturday night as he bids to set-up a glamourous world title opportunity against Alberto Puello later this year.

Britain's undefeated 28-year-old is currently mandatory for a crack at Puello's WBC super-lightweight strap, but knows he has to come through this weekend's showdown in his hometown of Sheffield if he is to retain that position.

Puello, who captured the title from Sandor Martin in Brooklyn last month, is yet to finalise plans for a first voluntary defence of his recently attained title, and Smith is hoping to take advantage of that by seeing off Germain before luring the talented Dominican star to the United Kingdom.

"This is my world title fight," Smith, who is 1/14 to win the fight, told DAZN this week. "That’s why I’ve put a lot into my camp!

"I’ve flown sparring partners from the other side of the world over for this - I know what can come after this fight. If Mathieu Germain thinks I’m overlooking him or thinking too far ahead then he’s wrong, because he is my world title fight.

“Mathieu is ranked 11 with the IBF and he’s a solid opponent, so I’m not going in there relaxed, I'll be going in there fully switched on because I have to get the job done. He’s in the way of some huge nights for me."

Smith kicked off the year in scintillating style, wiping out Frenchman Walid Ouizza in the opening round at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena to claim the vacant EBU European strap in January.

The Sheffield Wednesday supporter will put his prized title on the line on Saturday night in the first of what he hopes will be many fights over the coming 18 months.

The guy in front of me right now is Mathieu and there’s no room for hiccups for me!

"I know going into this fight that I need to produce a world title winning performance, which is why we’re back in my hometown - I’m looking to put on a big performance to put me in good stead going into those upcoming big fights.

"It’s not about picking easy opponents, Mathieu is a solid fighter, we’re picking these fights because he’s going to bring a lot to the table before these big fights, so no stone has been left unturned and I’m not overlooking him one bit.

"All I am focussed on right now is stepping inside that ring and proving to everybody why I am mandatory for the WBC super-lightweight championship of the world."

Smith v Germain tops a huge bill of boxing at Sheffield's Canon Arena, with former IBF featherweight world champion Josh Warrington returning to action against India's Asad Asif Khan, whilst Birmingham's Ryan Kelly tackles Belfast's Caomhin Agyarko for the WBA Continental super-welterweight belt.

Meanwhile, Josh Padley will also fight under the Matchroom banner for the first time since his admirable performance against Shakur Stevenson in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, taking on Serbia's undefeated Marco Cvetanovic - a bout which will have the WBA International title on the line.

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Mark Mothershaw

• Matchroom
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