In one of the year's shockers, Star Boxing’s Long Island knockout artist Joe "The Irish Bomber" Smith Jr. (22-1, 18 KOs) stunned heavily-favored power-puncher Andrzej Fonfara (28-4, 16 KOs) with a first round TKO in the scheduled 10-round light heavyweight main event on Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC tonight at UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
The referee stopped the contest at :45 seconds of the opening round, after Smith floored his opponent with a big right hand, and continued the barrage with a flurry of punches that had Fonfara reeling.
“I expected it to go 10 rounds because he’s a great fighter,” Smith told NBC. “I trained harder for this fight than I ever have, and came here to prove a point that I belong in the ring with the best.
“I was trying to stay on top of him because he left himself open,” added Smith. “I caught him with the over hand right. When I see someone hurt, I'm a finisher, and was determined to get him out.”
Representing Long Island, New York, Smith Jr. was making his national television debut and it was a beauty. It was his 16th straight victory.
The 26-year-old was a highly decorated amateur who won the 2008 New York Golden Gloves with a victory over Seanie Monaghan. A member of the Local 66 Laborers Union between fights and the oldest of eight siblings, Smith Jr. by far picked up his most impressive victory of his career.
