Regis Prograis in frame for Dalton Smith after brutal Zepeda KO،
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith said a clash between Britain's Dalton Smith and American Regis Prograis was one of many “incredible fights” they were looking to make following the Sheffield boxer's victory over Jose Zepeda on Saturday.
Smith (16-0, 12 KOs) defeated Zepeda by knockout in the fifth round after a powerful body shot left the Mexican reeling.
The win puts the 27-year-old in contention for big fights after winning the WBC silver title at 140 pounds, with plenty of options on the table.
Prograis (29-2 24 KOs), beaten convincingly by Devin Haney in his last fight, is also represented by Matchroom.
“Let's see where he is in the rankings to see how close he is to fighting for a world title, but Régis Prograis is a great fight, it would be an incredible fight,” Frank Smith told ESPN.
“We also represent Regis, but that would show the level that Dalton Smith is at. But there are a lot of big fights to be had, let's see.
“Dalton has everything he needs [and] Ultimately it comes down to performance. People want to be entertained and Dalton entertains people. This performance on Saturday night was a special ending.”
Although his dream is to fight at Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday, fighting in the United States is also on Dalton Smith's priority list.
“My number one goal is to break through Hillsborough, have a big fight there, but spending a day in America is also every fighter’s dream,” Smith told ESPN.
“I have many years in my career and big things I want to achieve and going there to America is definitely on the agenda.”
After beating Zepeda, Smith called out fellow Briton Adam Azim, and the two men were ordered to fight for the latter's European title.
However, the Azim camp has yet to accept the fight or relinquish the belt.
“I think the reality is that they [Azim’s team] I wanted to see how Saturday went and hoped he would lose, but actually he showed up spectacularly, and that put him off fighting even more,” Frank Smith said.
“But unfortunately it's even more embarrassing now that they've allowed another three weeks to take him out of the fight. I'm not saying in any way that we don't want to see the fight, I'm just looking more at reality.”
Dalton Smith is also getting impatient.
“I don't have anything personal against Adam, I actually like Adam, it's just that if you don't fight, give up the title – it's no big deal,” Dalton Smith said.
“I'm not worried if he wants to vacate the title, it's no problem, I'll fight someone else to get it. Just make a decision.”
