Joe Smith Jr.: record, next fight and profile →
At the moment, Joe Smith (26-3, 21 KOs) is riding a very big high in his career. In January, he beat up and dropped Jesse Hart to win a ten round decision at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. In a world title eliminator, Smith returned in August and knocked out former world champion Eleider Alvarez in nine rounds.
Joe Smith Jr. hopes his foreseeable fight against Artur Beterbiev happens just as much as many boxing fans. The emerging light heavyweight contender considers a showdown with Beterbiev a can’t-miss action fight that’ll result in a knockout. The hard-hitting light heavyweights would have to win at least one more fight apiece prior to their bout becoming a more realistic possibility, but battling Beterbiev is in the back of Smith’s mind.
Bob Arum always believed Joe Smith Jr. was capable of performing against a top opponent the way he defeated Eleider Alvarez last month. Now that Smith has knocked out Alvarez, Arum “absolutely” has preliminary plans to match Smith against Artur Beterbiev in 2021. Long Island’s Smith (26-3, 21 KOs) and Russia’s Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) must win another fight apiece to remain on that collision course, but Beterbiev-Smith has become one of the most intriguing matchups within the light heavyweight division.
By Lyle Fitzsimmons - In case you’d not noticed already, Joe Smith isn’t your typical fighter. Case in point, just two days after the most substantial win of his pro career, the rugged Long Island native isn’t headed to Disney World, the Caribbean or any other haunt typically sought by an athlete in full-on celebration mode. Instead, the soon-to-be 31-year-old...
Eleider Alvarez and his coach made a pact together. When he would suffer his next defeat, it was understood that the boxer had to hang up his gloves in order to leave his sport in good health. This is the scenario that will occur after the painful loss against Joe Smith, which took place on Saturday night at the MGM Grand's Conference Center in Las Vegas.
Joe Smith Jr. senses he has successfully navigated the most treacherous part of his path toward winning the WBO light heavyweight title. The heavy-handed contender doesn’t know anything about Umar Salamov or Maksim Vlasov, both of whom he’ll start studying soon. Those that are familiar with those Russian contenders have informed Smith that neither of them are as formidable as Eleider Alvarez, the former WBO champion Smith knocked out in the ninth round Saturday night at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas
Joe "The Beast" Smith Jr. once again lived up to his moniker. The Long Island native, nearly four years since he knocked Bernard Hopkins through the ropes, knocked out Eleider "Storm" Alvarez in the ninth round of a WBO light heavyweight world title eliminator.
Alvarez, Smith Fight Photos Gallery - MGM Grand Conference Center - In a light heavyweight eliminator, Joe Smith (26-3, 21 KOs) dropped and knocked out Eleider Alvarez (25-2, 13 KOs) in the ninth round. (photos by Mikey Williams)
Alvarez, Smith Scorecard BoxingScene Live - 4 world rated (WBO), JOE "THE BEAST" SMITH JR (25-3 20KO's) and #3 world rated (WBO), ELEIDER "STORM" ALVAREZ (23-1 13KO's) tipped the scaled today at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, ahead of their WBO World Title Eliminator main event on ESPN+.