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Joe Smith Jr. To Face Maxim Vlasov
For WBO World Title On ESPN Feb. 13
The working man's hero, Long Island light heavyweight
slugger, JOE "THE BEAST" SMITH JR. (26-3 21KO'S) is
officially set to take on Russian, MAXIM VLASOV (45-3
26KO's) on February 13th for the vacant WBO Light
Heavyweight World Title on ESPN. If it weren't reality, some
would say it was scripted. An American union laborer's rise
to the top of the boxing world, in the paramount bout of his
career for the Championship of the World, against a big
strong Russian bear.
Smith Jr. had a 2020 reminiscent of his remarkable 2016. In
both years, Smith Jr. secured two major upsets, placing
himself inside the top 5 in the light heavyweight division
and on track to fight for a world title. As a relative
unknown in 2016, and a 16-1 underdog on NBC, Smith Jr.
traveled to Chicago to win a devastating first round
knockout of then #2 rated, Andrezj Fonfara in what would be
dubbed "Upset of the Year" by Ring Magazine. Later that
year, once again as an underdog, Smith Jr. would knock
boxing legend, Bernard Hopkins, clear out of the ring, onto
the Forum floor becoming the first to knockout the former
multi-division world champion. Both knockouts were also
runners-up for Knockout of the Year. With a win over the
likes of Fonfara and Hopkins in back-to-back fights, Smith
Jr. became a well-regarded and beloved inspiration in the
light heavyweight division.
Fast forward to 2020, and Smith Jr. would once again find
himself clawing back into the mix of a hot light heavyweight
division. In January, Smith Jr. was in the main event on
ESPN from the Hard Rock in Atlantic City, where he soundly
defeated then #1 rated light heavyweight, and heavily
favored Jesse Hart for the WBO NABO Light Heavyweight Title.
Next, Smith Jr. laced up his boots, and found himself again
as the underdog in a four-man WBO World Title elimination
tournament against then #1 rated, and former world champion,
Elieder Alvarez. After dominating the fight, Smith Jr.
knocked Alvarez through the ropes in the ninth round, eerily
similar to his Bernard Hopkins knockout, four years prior,
en route to a 9th round brutal TKO victory.
With his August win over Alvarez, Smith Jr. was set to take
on the winner of Maxim Vlasov vs Umar Salamov, in the finals
of the WBO Title Eliminator. However, after this semifinal
bout was postponed once due to the global pandemic, again in
October, and then the rescheduled November bout was also
postponed when Salamov tested positive for COVID-19, Star
Boxing's NY Hall of Fame Promoter, JOE DEGUARDIA, requested
and was granted the right for Smith Jr. to take on Maxim
Vlasov for the vacant WBO World Title.
Vlasov who had a twelve-fight win streak snapped by
Krzyzsztof Glowacki in a bout for the Cruiserweight World
Championship in November 2018, has since won three in-a-row
in which he collected the WBO Global Light Heavyweight
Title.
Smith Jr. now finds himself as the main character in a Rocky
story, founded in reality. Just four years ago, as a member
of Union Laborer's Local 66, Smith Jr. could be found at the
Bay Park Sewage Plant with RJ Industries, power washing
fecal matter off of tanks. To this day, Smith Jr. keeps his
books up to date with the union, and while not fighting, can
be found around Long Island servicing trees with his Dad,
for their company, "Team Smith Tree Service." Originating
from humble beginnings, with a roll up your sleeves style of
hard work, Smith Jr.'s grit and determination to make
something of himself has led him one victory away from glory
and has made him the pride of the working class, known
affectionately as the "Common Man".
Joe Smith Jr. started his pro career with brothers Jerry and
Phil Capobianco. "Running into Jerry (trainer) and Phil
(manager) changed my life. Without them I wouldn't have made
it to where I am today. I would still be a gym fighter."
SMITH JR. continued, "and a huge thank you to Joe DeGuardia
and Star Boxing, my promoter, who took me to the Paramount
and world and providing me with this great opportunity and
believing in me. I am ready for this fight and I can't
wait".
Star Boxing CEO, JOE DEGUARDIA, said this about the upcoming
World Title fight, "Joe Smith Jr. is one of the hardest
working men in boxing. He is the optime of the working-class
hero. It is truly a different experience watching Joe fight
- he has hammers in both fists, and at a moment's notice,
can end a fight. He has vastly improved his boxing ability
and I believe he has become the top guy in the division. I
am very confident that the 'Common Man', Joe Smith Jr. will
be the World Champion. Kudos to the WBO for recognizing
Joe's talents and mandating this fight."
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