Joe Smith Jr. is forced to mourn the loss of a sibling to a senseless shooting over the weekend.
Alex Smith, the younger brother of the former WBO light heavyweight titlist, was murdered early Saturday morning in Mastic Beach, New York. Reports from several Long Island news outlets indicate that the 30-year-old from neighboring Mastic was involved in a confrontation with an unknown assailant in the parking lot of Linsa Torr’s Place, a popular local bar on Neighborhood Road in the overnight between Friday and Saturday.
A preliminary homicide report from Suffolk County police indicates that Smith was shot at around 2:00 a.m. Saturday and was pronounced dead at the crime scene. Authorities closed off the block to investigate, though police do not have any confirmed leads as this goes to publication.
Alex was one of eight siblings and was part of the family’s Team Smith Tree Service business based out of nearby Shirley. Joe Smith Jr. is also an active employee in addition to his full-time career as a world class boxer. Alex is survived by his wife and four young children who range from ten months to nine years of age.
Boxing Scene passed along its sincerest condolences to the Smith family, particularly Smith Jr. who was understandably not in a position to speak nor was comment sought by this publication.
Smith (28-4, 22KOs) has not fought since a second-round knockout of unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev in their multi-belt championship unification last June 18 at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City. The bout ended Smith’s WBO light heavyweight title reign which he enjoyed for more than a year dating back to his April 2021 twelve-round points win over Maxim Vlasov in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
An online donation portal has been established through GiveSendGo by family patriarch Joe Smith Sr. to help assist with funeral and memorial costs along with support for the family his son left behind. They have raised more than $8,300 as this goes to publication, with a goal of $20,000 set to cover all costs.
The detectives assigned to the case have urged anyone with information to call the Suffolk County Homicide department at 631-852-6392 or its confidential Crime Stoppers tip hotline at 1-800-220-TIPS.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox