Yafai–Sandoval Elevated to Sheffield Headliner After Dalton Smith Injury
The champion's undisclosed camp injury leaves his first defence against mandatory challenger Alberto Puello in limbo.
Overview
- Matchroom confirmed Monday that Dalton Smith withdrew from the June 6 Sheffield show with an undisclosed training injury.
- His first WBC super-lightweight title defence against Alberto Puello is off the bill and no new date has been set.
- Galal Yafai now challenges Ricardo Sandoval for the WBC and WBA flyweight titles in the upgraded main event at the Utilita Arena.
- Promoters have not detailed next steps for Smith vs Puello, though Yahoo Sports notes Puello is a WBC-ordered mandatory who would still expect a title shot.
- Sandoval enters as the defending unified champion after upsetting Kenshiro Teraji in Japan last July, while Yafai returns from a 2025 result later overturned to a no-contest.