Dalton Smith: I am ready to take on Shakur Stevenson or Teofimo Lopez in unification bout

Dalton Smith says he is ready for a unification fight with either Shakur Stevenson or Teofimo Lopez after he claimed the WBC super-lightweight title and believes rival Adam Azim has to prove himself at world level before they fight.

Smith became Britain's latest boxing world champion after knocking out Subriel Matias in the fifth round in Brooklyn.

That extended his unbeaten record as a pro to 19-0 when a right hook dropped Puerto Rico's Matias and the referee called for the stoppage, despite Matias attempting to get to his feet.

The Sheffield fighter had rocked his opponent with another right hand earlier in the same round.

Now, all attention is starting to turn to who Smith will face next and whether a unification fight is now on the cards with the winner of the fight between Lopez, who defends his WBO super-lightweight title, and Stevenson in New York on January 31.

The unbeaten Stevenson will be bidding to become a four-weight world champion when he steps up from lightweight to challenge Brooklyn's Lopez, who is making the fourth defence of his WBO belt.

Smith says he will most likely be in New York to watch that battle and will have a keen eye on the two fighters he has in his sights.