Abraham Nova: record, next fight and profile →
Three belts and light heavyweight supremacy will be at stake when WBC/IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev meets WBO champion Joe Smith Jr. in a highly anticipated unification showdown Saturday, June 18, at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Abraham Nova wants to test himself against Emanuel Navarrete next. The undefeated featherweight contender wants nothing more than to prove himself against the WBO 126-pound champion many contemporaries don’t want to fight. Now that Navarrete’s targeted opponent, Oscar Valdez, has committed to a 130-pound title unification fight with Shakur Stevenson on April 30, Navarrete needs an opponent for his next title defense.
William Encarnacion buckled Abraham Nova’s legs after landing a right hand in the first round Saturday night. That stunning shot apparently woke up the undefeated featherweight contender. Nova recovered quickly, took complete control of their 10-rounder and impressively broke down the Dominican veteran in the opener of ESPN’s doubleheader from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
Abraham Nova has taken a crash course on William Encarnacion over the past week-and-a-half. Encarnacion replaced Nova’s original opponent, Jose Enrique Vivas, on less than two weeks’ notice because Vivas suffered an injury while training. The undefeated Nova understands he’ll have his work cut out for him when he encounters the Dominican Republic’s Encarnacion in the opener of ESPN’s doubleheader Saturday night from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
Smith, Geffrard Weights Photos Gallery - Geffrard answered the call and will fight Smith this Saturday evening at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).
Exactly one week after accepting the most difficult fight of his nine-year pro career, Steve Geffrard easily made weight late Friday afternoon in Verona, New York.
Smith, Geffrard Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - Steve Geffrard wasn't supposed to be here. Last Friday, he was preparing to weigh in for a fight in Delray Beach, Florida, when he received a call. WBO light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. needed an opponent after British puncher Callum Johnson contracted COVID-19. (photos by Mikey Williams)
By Thomas Gerbasi - If a torn Achilles tendon and a worldwide pandemic kept Abraham Nova from getting to where he wanted to be in 2020-21, the 27-year-old isn’t worried, because 22 is his lucky number.
As BoxingScene.com first reported, WBO light heavyweight world champion Joe Smith will make his first title defense against an unlikely contender Steve Geffrard on Saturday, Jan. 15 at Turning Stone Resort Casino and LIVE on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Joe Smith Jr., Long Island’s working class hero, will make the long-awaited first defense of his WBO light heavyweight world title against British knockout artist Callum Johnson on Saturday, Jan. 15 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.