FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

Dalton Smith beats Alberto Puello by split decision in Sheffield — and O'Shaquie Foster is my Fighter of the Year after unifying at 130lbs against Emanuel Navarrete. Full breakdown of both fights, plus every bit of boxing news that matters this week.We start in Sheffield, where I was there live for Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello. Split decision, scores all over the place, and plenty in the arena had Puello winning or drawing. My read on why Dalton edged it, why the fight was a high-level chess match from round one, and why the vast majority of world-level fights end on the cards. Then: what next for Dalton Smith? Adam Azim got ripped into by Sunny Edwards, the IBF title at 140 is now vacant after Richardson Hitchins vacated, and I wanted Dalton to properly call out Shakur Stevenson. He didn't — and I think that was a mistake On to O'Shaquie Foster. Three fights in 11 months, three wins, all three going to points — Stephen Fulton, Raymond Ford and now Emmanuel Navarrete for the unified super featherweight crown. He outboxed, outworked and outfought a Mexican in a Mexican style of fight. He's in my pound-for-pound top ten and he is my Fighter of the Year, no debate. Plus: Vergil Ortiz vs Keith Thurman makes no sense to me, Moses Itauma spotted training at Floyd Mayweather's gym, Lomachenko targeting Foster on the comeback, Devin Haney's DAZN multi-fight deal and a Liam Paro unification, Hrgovic vs Frank Sanchez lined up for Zagreb in 2027, the Catterall / Teofimo / Ryan Garcia situation, why I'm hearing Joe Cordina vs Manny Pacquiao is NOT happening on the Fury-Joshua undercard, and Denzel Bentley going to Zuffa knowing the WBO will strip him. #boxing #oshaquiefoster #daltonsmith ⚽️ LOVE FOOTBALL? Check out my brand new channel for honest football takes:    / @adeoladipotalksfootball   SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER 👉🏽 https://subscribepage.io/adeoladipo-s... Your home for boxing talk, football takes, and life as it comes, straight from me to you. 🎧 PREFER TO LISTEN? ADE TALKS BOXING IS ALSO A PODCAST! Take Ade Talks Boxing with you wherever you go. Catch all the latest boxing news, big-fight reactions, debates and opinions on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 🥊 ADE TALKS BOXING PODCAST 🎧 LISTEN ON SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/35RYe0v... 🎧 LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast... 📲 Follow Ade On Socials: 🐦 Follow Ade on X: https://x.com/ade_oladipo1 📸 Follow on Instagram:   / ade.oladipo   🎵 TikTok:   / ade_oladipo   📘 Facebook:   / itsadeoladipo   📩 Business Enquiries: adeoladipo@connexos.co.uk