Joey’s Corner: Dalton Smith and every British 140lbs world boxing champion

Dalton Smith made history on Saturday night, stopping Subriel Matias in five rounds to capture the WBC super lightweight championship. The victory saw ‘Thunder’ become the ninth British fighter to capture a world title at 140lbs.

The super lightweight, or light welterweight, division has been one of the most fertile proving grounds for British boxers in the modern era. Read on as we chronicle every British world super lightweight champion in Joey’s Corner.

Jack ‘Kid’ Berg: 1930-1931 (NYSAC, NBA, The Ring)

Whitechapel stylist Berg is the first on our roll call of 140lbs immortality. Berg carved out his title chance by beating the legendary Tony Canzoneri over 10 rounds in 1930. This victory smoothed the path to a crack at world 140lbs champion Mushy Callahan, ‘The Fighting Newsboy’ who had reigned atop the division for four years. 

Berg held a victory over Callahan via 10-round decision and the Londoner went one better for the title, stopping his man in that same round. Eight successful title defences followed, as well as a non-title victory over the iconic Kid Chocolate. But Canzoneri would have his revenge, knocking Berg out in three rounds in April 1931.

Berg would continue to claim he was the light welterweight champion, with the Canzoneri fight having taken place at lightweight. The American’s 135lbs championship had also been on the line in the contest, hence the lower weight limit. 

The Ring backed Berg’s claim and he defended their title a further five times before Canzoneri won a rematch on points. This fight was controversial. When a clear foul from Canzoneri knocked ‘Kid’ down, the referee deemed it a legitimate knockdown and counted. Berg kept his The Ring designation again, with the second fight also being fought at lightweight. Eventually, Berg would lose his claim to the crown against Sammy Fuller via split decision. Berg boxed on for another decade, including a long reign as British lightweight champion.

Terry Marsh: 1987 (IBF)

‘The Fighting Fireman’ broke Britain’s five-decade duck at the weight in 1987, when he knocked out America’s IBF champion Joe Manley in 10 rounds in Basildon. Marsh made one defence of his crown, finishing Akio Kameda in seven rounds just four months after his title win. Marsh then retired from the ring due to an epilepsy diagnosis and his life spiralled. 

As well as losing his fistic calling, Marsh lost his day job as a fireman due to his health. Marsh was then charged with shooting his manager, Frank Warren, and served 10 months in prison before he was acquitted of attempted murder. Marsh would be embroiled in legal battles with the promoter for years afterwards pertaining to whether Warren had knowingly contracted Marsh to fight despite having epilepsy. 

The fighter would claim that his initial diagnosis was incorrect and that further tests had found he actually had hypoglycemia. But a promised ring return never happened. Marsh has, however, had a handful of ‘boxing chess’ fights, a composite sport where combatants exchange chess moves before gloving up for three-minutes of boxing and then returning to the board. Marsh also legally changed his name to ‘None of the Above X’ and ran in the 2010 General Election as a parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock.

Ricky Hatton: 2005-2009 (IBF, WBA, The Ring)

‘The Hitman’ transcended boxing during his four-year reign atop the light welterweight division. The Manchester boy was the ultimate everyman and a true mainstream superstar during his too-brief time on this planet.

Hatton stunned Aussie legend Kostya Tszyu in 2005 in the early throes of a Manchester morning at the MEN. A ferocious 11 rounds saw Ricky go blow-for-blow with the IBF and The Ring champion, a pound-for-pound icon. Hatton beat Tszyu into literal submission as his fans and friends roared. A night that will live forever.

Hatton added the WBA strap with a ninth-round TKO of Carlos Maussa and, despite sanctioning body interference, retained his The Ring and lineal claims until his 2009 loss to Manny Pacquiao. Hatton also picked up the WBA welterweight belt from Luis Collazo and lost to WBC champion Floyd Mayweather at the same weight in 10 rounds of a blockbuster battle. 

Hatton retired in 2009 following the ‘Pac-man’ loss and again in 2012, after Vyacheslav Senchenko thwarted his comeback in nine rounds. Hatton boxed Marco Antonio Barrera in an emotional exhibition back at the Manchester Arena in 2021 and was scheduled to face Eisa Al Dah in Dubai in a professional fight last year. But Hatton's final contest never took place, as the British icon tragically passed away in September 2025 at the age of 46.