Dalton Smith is a star on the rise. The Sheffield super lightweight has just made the first defence of his British title, capping off a superb 2022. The 13–0 prospect has come further than most in that time, already headlining arenas in his hometown. The Sportsman sat down for an exclusive chat with ‘Thunder’ about his days as an amateur standout, the rich boxing history of Sheffield and being inspired by Ricky Hatton and Arturo Gatti.
Going back to your amateur days, you took the decision to turn pro rather than go to Tokyo 2020. What were your motivations?
The big one really was the weight changes. I was getting quite a few hand injuries with the protection and stuff, it isn't the best in the amateurs. I was gutted at the time because I had no intention to turn professional, the main focus was to get to the Olympic games. But how things played out, the Olympics got put off another year, so it's probably the best decision of my life.
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You headlined the Sheffield Arena in just your 12th fight against Sam O’maison. What was that like?
It’s what dreams are made of. I think headlining the Sheffield Arena came around quicker than I expected. It was like a homecoming for me after so many years, to see how the support turned out. Those memories will stick with me for the rest of my life because that's what you dream of. To actually be there and doing it on fight night, it was a great feeling.
You’re a big Sheffield Wednesday fan. Is the next target to headline a big card at Hillsborough?
Yeah, and for me that's probably the main focus. I want to move on and fight for world titles. I want to become world champion. But I've said that's on my bucket list, I want to headline Hillsborough. To get a packed out stadium there would be a dream come true.
Sheffield has such an incredible boxing history with so many former world champions hailing from the area. Does that legacy inspire you?
Yeah, definitely. Seeing the greats that came from Sheffield, Kell Brook, Prince Naseem Hamed, (Herol) ‘Bomber’ Graham, Ryan Rhodes, Kid Galahad, the list goes on. They were role models for me growing up, they were the people I used to look up to.
I'm not a million miles away from stamping my name up there with the Sheffield greats. It's something I'll keep working hard towards, getting the Dalton Smith name bigger and bigger.
You’re coming off a really exciting win over Kaisee Benjamin in Manchester on the Natasha Jonas vs Marie-Eve Dicaire card. What are your reflections on that victory?
It was a good fight. I spoke to my dad after and was like “that was the fight we needed”. I'll probably learn more from that fight than I have the previous 12. To get the championship rounds in, we were going into that fight coming off a chest infection and my dad didn't want me to fight. But you know, I got in there and proved I can beat top kids when I'm only 60 or 70%.
Would you say that the Benjamin fight was the toughest fight of your pro career so far?
It was in my professional career, definitely. Casey's proven, he's got a good resume. He's just been under the radar a little bit just because he's an avoided fighter. He got himself into a mandatory position to challenge me for my belt. We knew Casey was a good kid. It was just about going in there and being professional, sticking to the game plan and getting the win. That's the main thing.
Obviously, you’re the British champion, you've racked up a couple of defences of that now. Is winning the Lonsdale belt outright something that you're targeting in the immediate future?
Yeah, I keep saying it, the Lonsdale belt is probably one of the nicest belts in boxing and with the history it's got behind it. I’d love to keep that in the family. So a few more defences and I get the belt for keeps.
On that same card in Manchester, to close out the night Ricky Hatton came out of retirement one last time to fight Marco Antonio Barrera. Did you watch Ricky and if so, what was it like to see one of the legends of the sport up close?
You know, it was great. I didn't manage to see much of the fight. There’s a process we have to go through after fights with the doctors.
Wherever Ricky turns up, there is going to be a crowd. His legacy’s stamped. He's achieved what he's achieved in boxing, he's an all-time great. So it was good to see, especially against Marco Antonio Barrera as well. He's one of boxing's legends, too. So to see them have one last dance, do it for a bit of fun, it was good. And I can say I was on Ricky's undercard, also. It's good.
Ricky Hatton was the same weight as you in his prime, a super lightweight. Is he someone that you are measuring your own career against?
Watching Ricky and what he's achieved in his career. That's why I work so hard because I want to get to those highs, I want to reach those glory days that Ricky did. The only thing I need to do is keep working hard to keep a level head. I've got a good team around me and there's no reason I can't achieve what the likes of Ricky have.
From one legend of the sport to another. Your nickname is ‘Thunder’ and you often fight in the white shorts with blue trim. Can you tell me about your love of the great Arturo Gatti?
He was a blood and guts warrior and I used to see the Micky Ward fights he had and stuff. Any fight Arturo was in, it was a bloodbath and it was entertaining. I think that's why he got the love he did.
When we were gonna turn professional, my Dad was like “What about ‘Thunder’ for a nickname?”. It works and I can keep that name alive through what he built.
There's a lot of great father/son, trainer/boxer combinations, You're trained by your father, Grant Smith. What's the dynamic like being trained by a family member?
Being coached by your Dad, it either works or it doesn't. But my Dad knows me better than anybody else. And I'm a big believer in not fixing something if it's not broken. Me and my Dad are achieving stuff we dreamt of. Long may that continue and me and my dad will be together till the end. But I've always said with father and son or family members, it either works or it doesn't. There's no in between. For me and my Dad it works.
What's the atmosphere like with the other fighters that he trains? Do you think your dad is maybe a little harder on you than he is on some of the others because you are his own flesh and blood?
I mean, we definitely have the most arguments out of all the other fighters! When I'm in the gym, Dad treats me like he does any other fighter, then when we leave Dalton’s his son again. When we're in the gym, I'm just another fighter. He gives me 100% like he does all his fighters.
One of those fighters is Sunny Edwards, the IBF flyweight champion. What’s it like to work with someone of such world class capabilities?
Certainly for me, he’s one of the pound for pound best. The last performance he put in, (Felix) Alvarado, he was a top, top contender.
Sunny goes in and he’s just got this style. I always refer to Floyd Mayweather towards the back end of his career, the movement, the angles, the speed. Some people look at Sunny and think “Oh, this is going to be an easy night.” They have second thoughts once they're in there with him. He's like family to me. We push each other on, we're always pushing to make each other better. It's a family environment at the gym.
Edwards is known for his outspoken social media presence and his public spats with Twitter trolls. Is the Sunny we see online the same as the man you know in real life?
When you meet Sunny in person he’s a completely different character. Sunny just likes to have a bit of fun. People are on social media, they’re giving stick out, it's just the world we live in. But Sunny can have a bit of fun with that and give them a taste of their own medicine. He’s good and it’s just a bit of enjoyment.
You mentioned Floyd Mayweather before. A lot of Floyd’s time recently has been spent fighting YouTubers. What do you think of the way that YouTube and social media have come into boxing with the likes of Jake Paul, KSI and guys like that?
It takes the limelight off because you get kids out there working all their life, and they're never gonna get the opportunity like they do. On the other hand, you can't blame them. As long as it's done safely and they know how to box. They're earning tons of money, you can't blame them. I'd be doing the same if I was in their position. Whatever pays the bills.
Do you think you'd ever fight one of them if the opportunity came up?
Easy money! If I ever get called out, get a couple of million and I’ll smack one of the YouTubers. I'm definitely up for that.
Finally, what are your plans for 2023?
Keep on winning! I’d like a few more defences of the British. I want it for keeps then move on to the international routes, the European. It's just one step at a time.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
