By Jake Donovan
This time last year, Joe Smith Jr. was thought to be just another light heavyweight. His common name only added to the suggestion that his career was destined for anonymity and in fact was regarded as the opponent – a live dog, but the “B” side, nevertheless – in a crossroads bout with fringe contender Will Rosinsky last December at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
A lot has changed between then and now, beginning with a convincing 10-round win over his fellow New Yorker, but his career soaring to new heights following a shocking 1st round knockout of Andrzej Fonfara this past June. In addition to scoring what is regarded as a leading candidate for Upset of the Year, Smith Jr. put himself in position for a major payday – and plenty more to come if he’s able to catch lightning in a bottle.
Next up for the 27-year old from the Mastic section of Long Island is a December 17 showdown with the legendary former two-division champion Bernard Hopkins. The HBO-televised bout – which tops a live tripleheader from The Forum in Inglewood, California – is largely centered around the event being the final bout in the historic career of Hopkins, who is a virtual lock for the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Smith wasn’t even born – in fact, not yet conceived – when Hopkins’ career began way back in October 1988. Chances are, he will remain a distant second in the buildup for his opponent’s farewell tour. It’s fine, since the longshot underdog plans to dominate conversation both in the ring and heading into the new year.
“I know we'll be seeing the final night for Bernard. It’s fitting that he's taking on a young hungry lion like Joe Smith Jr.,” acknowledges Joe DeGuardia, whose Star Boxing promotional outfit based out of the Bronx proudly represents Smith Jr. “He's going to be in for something of a surprise, the same way Fonfara was when he got knocked out in one round.”
Despite scoring the biggest win of his career in front of a nationally televised audience on free to air NBC in primetime, Smith Jr. (22-1, 17KOs) still finds himself having to prove his worth in the boxing industry. While plenty have offered proper credit for the win, there remain those who remain skeptical of his luck of the Irish extending into this particular bout, which will be his first on the U.S. West Coast.
In a way, the rising contender himself is carrying the same mentality, careful to not get caught up in his own press clippings as he heads into the biggest fight of his seven-year career.
“I go into every fight the same way,” Smith insisted during a recent media conference call to promote the event. “I look at the person in front of me. Whether (the opponent) is a legend or not, they are there to hurt me and take everything away from me. I’m just doing everything the same. Pushing myself - each fight we push a little harder, doing everything we can to win.”
Of course, a win puts Smith Jr. on an entirely new level and in a higher tax bracket. For now, all energy from the boxer and his team is squarely placed on upsetting Hopkins. From there can come thoughts of challenging the likes of lineal champion Adonis Stevenson or the winner of the eventual rematch between newly crowned unified titlist Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev.
“Many doors open (with a win over Hopkins) but right now we're focused on December 17 and Bernard Hopkins,” insists DeGuardia. “Of course, once he prevails, every door opens.”
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2
