Undefeated Dalton Smith opened as a strong -280 favorite in his 12-round super lightweight fight against Jose Zepeda, scheduled for March 23 in Sheffield, England. Following an illustrious amateur career, Smith turned pro in 2019 rising through the ranks to claim the English super lightweight title with a TKO of Lee Appleyard in just his eighth professional bout. He’s been the British super lightweight belt holder since August 2022 successfully defending his title four times. This is an opportunity for Smith to enter the main stream of the 140-pound class.
A veteran of 43 career professional fights we can refer to Zepeda as a journeyman. He fought for the WBO lightweight title in 2015 and twice for the WBC light welterweight title in 2019 and 2022 losing all three bouts. Zepeda has lost two of his last three fights, most recently to unbeaten Richardson Hitchins by unanimous decision last September. Zepeda hit the boxing betting board as a +214 underdog.
Dalton Smith vs. Jose Zepeda Betting Odds
Dalton Smith -280
Jose Zepeda +214
The 12-round super lightweight fight between Dalton Smith ( 15-0, 11 KOs ) and Jose Zepeda ( 37-4, 28 KOs ) will take place on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England. The fight can be seen on DAZN.
Dalton Smith vs. Jose Zepeda Fight Preview
We’re catching fighters at opposite spectrums of their career with the 27-year-old Smith unbeaten in 15 career fights and looking to tap into the lightweight ranks for a potential better payday in the future. He’s never fought outside Europe with his last fight taking place in the same venue as Saturday’s scrap. Smith captured the vacant British super lightweight title with a TKO of Sam O’Maison at Utilita Arena in 2022 and defended his title as a massive -1100 favorite with a seventh round stoppage of Sam Maxwell last July.
This is likely the last stand for Zepeda, who turned pro in 2009 and has 43 professional fights on his resume. Now in his mid-30s, Zepeda won the vacant WBC silver light welterweight title with a fifth round KO of Ivan Baranchyk in late 2020. He successfully defended the title twice setting the stage for a fight against Regis Prograis for the WBC light welterweight title in 2022. Entering the fight as a +300 underdog, Zepeda was outpunched 156-66 and KO’d in the final minute of the 11th round. It was Zepeda’s third loss in a title fight falling earlier to Jose Ramirez for the WBC light welterweight title in 2019 and to Terry Flanagan for the WBO lightweight strap in 2015.
Smith has shown a unique ability to avoid taking blows with quick feet and steady defense. He’s aggressive when he needs to be and has the stamina to go the distance, like he did against Billy Arlington and Kaisee Benjamin in his two fights prior to flooring Maxwell. There has been some question about the quality of opponents with his wins coming in regional battles. Though Zepeda may be on the down slope of his career he’s probably the most accomplished boxer Smith has fought to date.
I’m not ready to concede the fight to Smith based solely on his record. Zepeda has been in world title fights in the past and although he failed to have success in those he battled valiantly in a majority decision setback to former unified light welterweight champion Jose Ramirez in 2019. Zepeda also took the world’s second best active super lightweight nearly the distance before succumbing in the penultimate round to Prograis. Most recently Zepeda dropped a UD to undefeated Richardson Hitchins last September.
Bet Dalton Smith vs. Jose Zepeda
Unlike some of the fights that were covered recently in this spot, the odds for this super lightweight bout are much closer. Still, Dalton is a nice favorite likely based on his unblemished record and being seven years younger than Zepeda. Experience can play a factor, though, and Zepeda definitely has an advantage in that area with more than twice as many fights and 100 more rounds. Zepeda has gone against what most consider better opponents and was able to hold his own, though he failed to win the bigger fights. There are some concerns about the quality of Smith’s opponents giving Zepeda value as an underdog.
Boxing Odds Pick: Jose Zepeda / Split Decision
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