From early on, Smith tied Matias up repeatedly, disrupting rhythm and cutting exchanges short before they could build. He would land, step in, and clinch. Over and over. It was the same approach that had troubled Matias before, and once again, Matias struggled to adjust. When he was free, Matias landed hard and clean, snapping Smith’s head and reminding everyone why he had built his reputation. Those moments were real. They were also brief.
Hearn praised Smith for deciding that boxing at range would not work and choosing to trade instead. That explanation does not quite match what unfolded. Smith did exchange in spots, but he never stayed long. The plan was simple and effective. Hit. Hold. Reset. Repeat.
“No one has done that to Matias,” Hearn said afterward, celebrating both the knockdown and the finish. That part is fair. Matias had never been stopped, and Smith took something from him that night. The leap Hearn made after that carries more ambition.
Calling Smith a superstar based on one controlled but uneven title fight reflects promoter confidence in doing its job. Smith showed he can execute a difficult plan under pressure. He also showed that his margin against elite pressure fighters tightens when the clinch is not there to slow things down.
Hearn’s enthusiasm is understandable. His fighter won a world title in hostile conditions. The performance itself looked more like a precise answer to a specific opponent, and Smith’s next assignment will say more than any post-fight praise.
