Sheffield has a rich boxing history, having produced world champions including Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Kell Brook, and those in attendance gave their latest champion a hero’s welcome.
Dressed in the blue and white of his beloved Sheffield Wednesday, he walked across the ring to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck.
The competition began cautiously, with neither fighter willing to overcommit as both displayed sharp defensive skills.
Smith had beaten the fearsome puncher Matias by standing and exchanging, but Puello posed a different challenge: a skilled southpaw relying on movement and counter punches.
The champion dictated the pace from the first rounds. He landed a right in the fourth, but Puello, 32, found his zone with his left before Smith connected again just before the bell.
Puello – whose only career loss came to Matias last year – came alive in the sixth, landing a series of straight lefts to win the round. The challenger then slipped to the canvas, briefly raising hopes of an upset among the home crowd.
The atmosphere resembled a football terrace, with a drummer and trumpeter accompanying the supporters singing Sheffield Wednesday songs.
A superb double jab and right hook from Smith in the ninth was answered by an uppercut and hook to the body from Puello, demonstrating the quality of both fighters.
While the competition – originally scheduled for June before an elbow injury forced Smith to withdraw – was well prepared, both men had everything to fight for to advance to the championship rounds.
Cut below his right eye, Smith exchanged blows with Puello, perhaps edging out the exchanges thanks to his higher work rate.
Smith played to the crowd in the final 20 seconds, before jumping into his father’s arms at the final bell.
Gn sports
