Bellew says Smith should target Azim fight at Hillsborough

Tony Bellew says Dalton Smith should target a fight with Adam Azim at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium after defending his WBC light-welterweight title against Alberto Puello on Saturday. Bellew believes a domestic rivalry could help turn the unbeaten Sheffield boxer into a household name, but warns that Puello is a dangerous opponent and the immediate priority.

Writing for BBC Sport, the former cruiserweight world champion says Smith needs a defining rival to reach audiences beyond boxing fans. Bellew points to his own career: he says his profile rose sharply after he beat David Haye, whom the public had expected to win.

Bellew describes an Azim bout as a “monster fight” and says he would like the pair to meet after Azim wins a world title, potentially in a unification contest. He also sees a contrast in styles: he calls Azim exceptionally fast, while arguing that Smith’s timing could counter that speed.

Smith, 29, is unbeaten in 19 professional fights, with 14 stoppages. He won the WBC title by stopping Subriel Matias in January. Puello, 32, is a southpaw with 25 wins from 26 bouts and is seeking to regain the belt he lost to Matias. Bellew calls the Dominican the toughest test of Smith’s career and says the champion cannot afford a slow start.

Bellew advises Smith to stay at light-welterweight, unify the division’s titles and avoid chasing names across weight classes. He says a points win over Puello would still be an achievement, while a stoppage would establish Smith, in his view, as the division’s best.

Smith’s title defence comes before any prospective Azim fight: Bellew says he cannot afford to lose focus, and that a defeat to Puello would be a major setback for British boxing. Earlier, boxing figures also tipped Smith to retain the title while warning that Puello could make the contest difficult. Read our preview of the Smith–Puello fight.