Dalton Smith Fully Focused On Saturday, Believes Jose Zepeda Is A Harder Fight Than Adam Azim
- Dalton Smith steps up to face 3x title challenger Jose Zepeda in Sheffield
- The British champ has also been ordered to face domestic rival Adam Azim
- Smith believes Saturday’s fight with Zepeda is harder than a fight with Azim
Dalton Smith is fully focused on Saturday’s big step-up against Jose Zepeda.
The British and Commonwealth champion takes on Mexican-American three-time title challenger ‘Chon’ Zepeda in front of more than 5,000 fans at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena, this Saturday live on DAZN.
Zepeda knows that he must win on March 23 to stay in the picture for big fights and another defeat, especially at this level, could be the end of his career.
Smith’s fight with Zepeda is eagerly-anticipated and closely-priced but a lot of the attention has been on a different fight for the Sheffield fighter.
Dalton Smith Believes Jose Zepeda Is A Harder Fight Than Adam Azim
A fight between Smith and domestic rival Adam Azim has been talked about since Azim quickly became a must-watch prospect in 2022.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, the promoter for Smith, made a ‘six-digit’ offer for Azim to face Smith last year – an offer which was denied by the Azim side as they went with a Franck Petitjean bout instead.
The EBU and BBBofC have jointly ordered Smith-Azim with purse bids set for April 3.
“When the purse bids get made, I’m in that purse bids”, Dalton Smith told Matchroom Boxing, “If the fight doesn’t get made, it’s not because of me.”
“No (he doesn’t want to fight me now). I don’t think his team does either. We’re both at the same stage in our careers”
Smith and his promoter Hearn are under the impression that Azim will withdraw from the bids for the fight.
“You can’t say ‘he needs to develop’, he’s the European champion. He’s calling the big names out but never mentions my name, if you want to get up there you have to go through me.”
“Zepeda’s a harder fight than Adam Azim. Zepeda’s experienced, he’s proven himself at world level.”
Dalton Smith believes his upcoming fight is a tougher ask than a big domestic fight with the BOXXER-promoted European champion.
Zepeda has three times before challenged for a world title but is obviously on the decline.
READ: Smith vs Zepeda Undercard in FULL: Ryan vs Harper BIG Domestic Fight On March 23 Show